ST] 

•397 
.L6B7 






Book < L 6l3 7 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 1007 



Contribution from the Forest Serric« 
WILLIAM B. GREELEY, Forester 



Washington, D. C. PROFESSIONAL PAPER June 5, 1922 

UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD 

By 
WARREN D. BRUSH, Scientific Assistant 



CONTENTS 

Page 

Introdnction 1 

Properties of tlie Wood 2 

Supply 6 

Annual Drain on the Supplr 6 

The Future of Basswood Timber 8 

Utilization by Industries 8 

Markets 52 

Summary 56 

Appendix : Classified List of Uses Reported for Basswood by Factories . 68 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1922 






\ LIBf^RY OF CONGRESS*^ 

RECEIVED 

NnV8-1922 

DOCUIVieNTS JJiViJION 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 




BULLETIN No. 1007 

Contribution from the Forest Service 
WILLIAM B. GREELEY, Forester. 




Washington, D. C. 



PROFESSIONAL PAPER 



June 5, 1922 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD 

By Warren D. Brush, Scientific Assistant. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Introduction 1 

Properties of the wood 2 

Supply 5 

Annual drain on the supply 6 

The future of basswood timber S 



Utilization by industries 8 

Markets 52 

Summary 58 

Appendix: Classified list of uses reported for 

basswood by factories 58 



INTRODUCTION. 



Basswood is one of the important commercial timbers of the 
United States. Nineteen other woods are manufactured into lumber 
in larger quantities, and factories using lumber for the manufacture 
of various wooden products consiune larger quantities of about 12 
other woods, including yellow poplar and white pine, which are often 
used for the same general class of products as basswood and are 
frequently substituted for it. 

Basswood is valued mainly for its white color, light weight, and 
good working qualities. It is well adapted for certain special uses 
for which other woods do not serve as well, and, because of the 
comparatively small supply now available, it is greatly in demand 
for these purposes. Basswood is valued highly for products made of 
wood in the natural state, particularly where a clean, attractive 
appearance and light weight are essential. Boxes and woodenware 
used for holding food are the main products. 

Basswood lumber is manufactured from several species, but mainly 
from the species Tilia americana, which grows over nearly all of the 
eastern part of the United States. Other common names for this 
tree are linden, linn, bass, limetree, whitewood, and beetree. The 
species Tilia heterophyUa , which is most commonly called white bass- 
wood and is found mainly in the Allegheny Mountain region, also 

64281°— 22— Bun. 1007 1 



2 BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

produces basswood lumber, principally in West Virginia, which is 
similar to that of Tilia americana. There are several other species 
of basswood in the United States, all of which have wood similar to 
the common basswood species, but contribute only small quantities 
of the timber. As the wood of these different species is very much 
alike, it is not kept separate in the market and is sold as basswood. 

PROPERTIES OF THE WOOD. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE. 

The heartwood of basswood is creamy brown with occasional 
darker streaks. The sapwood is wide and not sharply defined from 
the heartwood. The wood has a very uniform appearance; the sap- 
wood and, particularly, rapid-growth timber has a light-colored, 
clean look very desirable for special piu'poses. Basswood occasionally 
shows a curly growth, especially near the butt of the tree, which 
gives it an attractive appearance. This is unusual, however, and 
the wood does not normally possess a curly grain nor any figure, such 
as is found in oak and birch, for instance. It is therefore painted a 
uniform color or stained to imitate some other wood, when used for 
such purposes as inside house finish and the exterior woodwork of 
furniture. 

PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES. 

Basswood timber is light in weight, soft in texture, straight-grained, 
and has low strength values and poor shock-resisting ability in general 
comparison with other woods. Compared on the basis of density or 
weight, basswood has nearly average values for most of its properties 
but has slightly greater stiffness and much greater shrinkage for its 
density than the average. In the classification of woods by the 
Forest Products Laboratory of the Forest Service into eight groups, 
according to results of tests for each of six physical and mechanical 
properties, basswood is described as follows: 

Property: Classification. 

Density or weight Light. 

Strength as a beam or post Weak. 

Hardness Soft. 

Shock-resisting ability Poor. 

Stiffness Moderately limber. 

Shrinkage Moderate. 

Table 1 shows actual and comparative properties of basswood 
timber, as determined by the Forest Service from a very large number 
of tests. White oak is the wood generally used as a basis for com- 
parison of properties. The composite values given are a combination 
of several kinds of tests. The hardness value of basswood is very 
low compared with white oak on this basis. This is also true of the 
different strength values, particularly shock-resisting ability. 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 



Table 1. — Actual and comparative properties ofbasswood timber. 



/Pennsylvania. 
' 1 Wisconsin . 



Locality where grown 

Weight per cubic foot: 

Green pounds. . 41 

Air-dry do 26 

Kiln-dry do 25 

Specific gravity, oven-dry, based on volume when green 0. 325 

Shrinkage from green to oven-dry condition : 

In volume (1 ) per cent. . 15. 8 

Radial (2) do 6.6 

Tangential (3) do 19. 3 

Comparative shrinkage (twice volume plus radial plus tangential divided by 
3) per cent. . 15. 8 

Strength in bending at 12 per cent moisture: (4) 

Modulus of rupture pounds per sq. in . . 836. 5 

Relative strength compared with white oak (white oak = 100) 56 

Strength in compression parallel to grain at 12 per cent moisture: (5) 

Maximum crushing strength pounds per sq. in. . 4, 542 

Relative strength compared with white oak (white oak=100) 62 

Shearing strength parallel to grain at 12 per cent moisture: (6) 

Shearing strength pounds per sq. in. . 1, 000 

Relative shearing strength compared with white oak (white oak=100) 49 

Composite values: 

Strength as a beam or post 6, 350 

Compared with white oak (white oak=100) 61 

Hardness 284 

Compared with white oak (white oak=100) 27 

Shock-resisting ability 5. 48 

Compared with white oak (white oak=100) 42 

Stiffness 1, 231 

Compared with white oak (white oak=100) 81 

Note. — Each of the composite values given in this table is a weighted average of several values derived 
from different kinds of strength tests. For instance, strength as a beam or post is a combination of values 
derived from tests in static bending, impact bending, and compression parallel to grain. 



__J 






l=iiivolimie; 2=radial; 3=tangential: 4=strength in bending; 5=strengthui compression parallel to 
grain; 6=shearing strength parallel to grain. 

Table 2 gives the relative properties of yellow poplar, cottonwood, 
and white pine compared with basswood, since these three woods are 
often put to the same uses as basswood. This table indicates that 
basswood is softer than any of these woods, also lighter in the oven- 
dry condition. In the green condition basswood is heavier than 
either yellow poplar or white pine because of the higher moisture 
content of the basswood. Cottonwood, however, is much heavier 
than basswood when green. Air-dry material of these four species 
does not differ greatly in weight. Basswood shrinks more than the 
other species given and its strength values are, in general, lower. 



4 BUULETHnT 100*7, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUBE. 

Table 2. — Properties of yellow poplar, cottonwood, and white pine compared with 

basswood. Basswood=lOO. 





Weight. 


Shrinkage from 

green to oven-dry 

condition. 


Strength at 12 
per cent mois- 
ture. 


Composite values. 


Species. 


Oven- 
dry 
(spe- 
cific 
grav- 
ity.) 


Air- 
dry. 


Green 


In vol- 
ume. 


Ra- 
dial. 


Tan- 
gen- 
tial. 


Mod- 
ulus 

of 
rup- 
ture 

in 
bend 
ing. 


Compres- 
sion par- 
allel to 
grain 
(maxi- 
mum 
crushing 
strength). 


Strength 

as a beam 

or post. 


Hard- 
ness. 


Shock-, 
resist- i Stiff- 
ing 1 ness. 
ability 


Yellow poplar.. 

Cottonwood 

WTiitepine 


112 
112 
109 


104 
108 
104 


93 
120 
95 


72 
89 
49 


62 
59 
33 


74 
99 
63 


105 
96 
102 


Ill 
105 
119 


114 
102 
116 


128 
119 
128 


103 
134 
109 


116 
98 
100 



Basswood is rated low in durability. The estimated average life 
of untreated basswood lumber, under conditions subjecting it to 
deca3^ but not to mechanical wear, is placed at from 3 to 5 years. 
Its length of life in any particular case may, of course, vary from 
this, depending on conditions. If properly treated with coal tar 
creosote, or some other standard preservative, its durability may be 
greatly increased.^ 

° STRUCTURE. 

Basswood is a diffuse-porous wood (PL I). The pores are about 
uniform in size and quite evenly distributed throughout the annual- 
growth ring. They are, however, somewhat less numerous near the 
outer limits of each annual ring, and this makes a contrast with the 
greater number of pores at the beginning of each ring so that the 
growth rings can be quite readily distinguished on a smoothly cut 
transverse section. Medullary rays are generally not conspicuous on 
longitudinal surfaces; in some pieces, however, they are reddish and 
quite conspicuous on a quarter-cut surface; on a smoothly cut trans- 
verse section they can be readily distinguished without the aid of a 
lens. 

roENTIFICATION. 

In appearance basswood resembles somewhat yellow poplar, 
cottonwood, buckeye, and tupelo. The yellow poplar, however, can 
be distinguished by its yellowish-brown heartwood, which has a 
characteristic greenish tinge. In cottonwood the medullary rays 
are very fine and barely visible even with a hand lens on a smoothly 
cut transverse surface, in contrast to those in basswood, which are 
visible to the unaided eye; the pores of cottonwood are conspicuously 
larger than those of basswood, as seen under a hand lens, and cotton- 
wood generally has a "woolly" texture on sawed surfaces. In 
buckeye and tupelo the rays are also finer than in basswood. The 
brownish-black, longitudinal streaks occasionally found in the heart- 
wood help to distinguish basswood. 

1 Farmers' Bulletin 744, Preservation of Farm timbers, gives methods of treatment. 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 



SUPPLY. 

Basswood timber, grows in the eastern half of the United States, 
but it is not important near the Atlantic coast south of New England 
nor in the GuK Coast States. 

The estimated stand of basswood is given by regions in figure 1. 
The New England region contains approximately 666,000,000 board 




Fig. 1.— Estimated stand of basswood by State groups. 

feet of timber, or 7 per cent of the supply. The middle Atlantic 
region, made up of the States of New York, Pennsylvania, New 
Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, contains a trifle more. The Lake 
region, the most important region, contains more than one-half of 
all the basswood in the United States, or about 5,082,000,000 board 
feet. The second most important region, the central region, whose 



BtrULETIN 1007, V. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICXJLTUEE. 



greatest producing States are West Virginia, Tennessee, and Ken- 
tucky, contains a quarter of the basswood, while the South Atlantic 
and East Gulf and lower Mississippi regions contain less than 5 per 
cent of the supply. The region shown in figm-e 2' is estimated to 
contain about 98J per cent of the total amount in the United States. 




PRINCIPAL REGION OF GROWTH 
OF BASSWOOD TIMBER 



Fig. 2. — Principal region of growth of basswood timber (shaded area). 

ANNUAL DRAIN ON THE SUPPLY. 

The total present annual demand for basswood timber is difficult to 
determine, because of a lack of statistics for some of the industries 
using basswood logs as raw material. The total basswood lumber 
production for 1920 is placed at 195,000,000 board feet. Reports on 
veneer production in 1919, which are the latest available data, give 
11,134,000 board feet, log scale, of basswood consumed in that year, 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 7 

equivalent to about 13,000,000 board feet of lumber. In 1911, 33,042 
cords of basswood were reported for excelsior, ec^uivalent to about 
16, 500, 000 board feet of lumber. Whether amounts now consumed are 
greater or less than these figures, and how much, can not be stated with 
certainty, because, although the demand for products of basswood 
from these industries has increased greatly, the supply of the timber 
has been more restricted in recent years. It is not safe, therefore, to 
assume any increase over these figures, especially since the sawmill 
cut of basswood lumber has suffered a considerable reduction during 
the period. Constant inroads have been made into the remaining 
stands of basswood to fulfill the increased demand. Smaller and in 
some cases second-growth timber has been cut so that both quantity 
and quality have been lowered. 

Pulpwood statistics are available for the year 1920. The bass- 
wood reported as used for pulpwood during that year totaled 
10,469 cords, equivalent to about 5,000,000 board feet of lumber. 
The number of sets of basswood slack-cooperage heading reported 
manufactured during the year 1919 was 3,078,000, ec^uivalent to 
a little more than 6,000,000 board feet of lumber. These differ- 
ent items, which make up practically the entire demand for bass- 
wood timber, total about 235,000,000 board feet. It is probable, 
therefore, that the present annual drain upon the supply amounts to 
between 225,000,000 and 250,000,000 board feet. Assuming it is 
250,000,000 board feet, the aggregate stand of basswood saw timber 
shown in figure 1 (9,012,000 board feet) without taking into con- 
sideration the growth that may take place during the period, will 
last approximately 40 years. If we are to continue using basswood 
provision will have to be made for growing trees to take the place of 
those cut. Natural growth not protected from fires while young will 
not fill the requirement gap toward the close of the 40-year period. 

Little basswood is used for rough building construction, because it 
is not so strong as many lower-priced structural timbers, and it 
is not satisfactory in locations favorable to decay. Also, compara- 
tively small quantities are used for fuel, because its heating value is 
low compared with other woods, such as beech and oak. Reports 
from wood-using industries of the United States obtained during the 
years 1909 to 1913 show an annual consumption of approximately 
370,000,000 board feet of basswood lumber by factories. Adding to 
this the timber used for veneer, excelsior, pulpwood, and slack 
cooperage, brings the total to over 400,000,000 board feet, compared 
with 225,000,000 or 250,000,000 board feet, the probable present 
amount used. Evidently there has been a considerable reduction in 
the amount of basswood used during the past 10 years. 



8 BULLETIN 1007^ U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

THE FUTURE OF BASSWOOD TIMBER. 

The future of basswood depends upon provision made for new 
growth, Basswood is a very desirable tree to grow especially for 
the small timber owner who has a tract of woodland which he wishes 
to keep permanently forested. It is easily propagated, increases 
in size rapidly in comparison with other species, and is marketable 
in various forms. Rapid-growth timber yields the largest amount 
of the white sapwood, which is highly valued. 

The tree grows well on deep, fresh or sandy loams, and has been 
known to grow rapidly and thriftily on very porous upland soils. 
It is generally a hardy tree, although on heavy upland soils it not 
only grows slowly but is likely to suffer injury during dry periods. 
The most favorable region for its growth is the northeastern part 
of the United States. In the virgin forest, basswood often reaches 
a height of 90 to 100 feet and a trunk diameter of 3 or 4 feet. When 
crowded by other trees it forms a straight stem, with but few 
branches, which are near the top (PL II) ; but when grown in the 
open the stem is short and there are many large branches. 

Basswood is one of the most prolific of our native trees in its sprout- 
ing capacity. The sprouts arise from the stump and afford a prac- 
tical means of renewing basswood as a timber crop (PL III). To 
obtain vigorous sprouts the trees should be felled between November 
and March. The stumps should be cut low, so that the sprouts will 
start close to the ground, where they can soon develop a root system 
of their own and become self-supporting; otherwise, decay from the 
stump of the old tree is likely to enter them. Sprouts generally 
grow more rapidly than seedlings. For the production of small- 
diameter material, such as excelsior and pulpwood bolts, propagation 
by sprouting affords an excellent method of obtaining a timber crop 
in a comparatively short time. 

The tree generally does not suffer severe injury from insect attack. 
Cattle like to browse upon the young twigs and leaves, however, 
and should be excluded from the young growth. 

UTILIZATION BY INDUSTRIES.^ 

Wood-using industries generally belong in one of two classes, based 
on the form of raw material used: (1) Those which depend entirely 
upon the log or bolt, and (2) those which use mainly lumber or dimen- 
sion stock for further manufacture into various products. The 
former class is termed primary and the latter secondary. 

2 Because of the low fuel value of the wood, basswood stands are of relatively inferior value as a source 
of firewood. As a shade tree and for ornamental planting, basswood is well liked because of its large crown 
and dense foliage. The tree is also valued very highly by beeksepers for the flowers, which are borne 
In great profusion. Honey made from basswood flowers is light-colored and of excellent quality; it gener- 
ally goes under the name of poplar honey and brings a comparatively high price in the market. 



Bui. 1007, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



Plate I. 



!;T'"Tn- 



P' 



4f 






'^•f 



i . i 
t 



»^i 



«"«■ 



M'J,^'1 






'i'-A it"i ».;''' « -^f'i'^',.',1i• 



I ' 



,1 IM * -f4 



^ ^ 1,,^ ,^4«Tr_^^^'' ". 



rf'-f'" '' I 



.,.-r»'t"" 



i+f ^'<*^,tr»»<t ^, 44,, 




' ;.r'/:3 




..,«. ^ 







Cross Section of Basswood Timber Magnified 20 Diameters. 



Bui. 1007, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



Plate II. 




Large Basswood Tree Clear of Branches but Affected with Rot for 
20 TO 30 Feet up as Indicated by Swollen Butt 



Bui. 1007, U. S. Deot. of Agriculture. 



Plate III. 




Thrifty Basswood Tree with Several Large Sprouts. 



Bui. 1007. U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



Plate IV. 



b 




WflW!'' \ 



e 



Defects ComiVionly Found in Basswood Timber: a, End of Basswood 
Log Showing Discolored Central Portion. 

b, c, d, c, boards showing most common defects, dark and discolored wood, rotten streaks, and 

knots. 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 




64281°— 22— Bull. 1007- 



10 BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 




FiO.i. 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 



11 



/\/N 



L.to .lOThousand board feet 

Y//////A 1 1. .to lOOThousand board feet 

-JOL.to.-.SOOThoo'sand board fee'r 
.. 501.. to_-IOOO Thousand board feet 
.IOOL.to..5000Thousand board feet 
5001 and overThousand board feet 




MANUFACTURE OF BASSWOOD LUMBER 
IN IMPORTANT PRODUCING STATES. 
BY COUNTIES. 
1918 



Fig. 4. 



12 BULI.ETIN 1007, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICITLTUEE. 



PRIMARY INDUSTRIES. 

LUMBER. 



Statistics on production. — Statistics on the annual production of 
basswood lumber are available for the year 1899 and for the years 
1904 to 1920, inclusive. These data are given in Table 3, by States. 

According to this table the 1920 production was only about one-half 
that of the annual production from 1906 to 1909, when the maximum 
cut of basswood lumber was reached. The figures for the different 
years are not all directly comparable, because in some years more of 
the smaller mills were included, as noted in the table. For several 
years, Wisconsin, Michigan, West Virginia, and New York have 
produced the largest quantities. In 1918 more than three-fourths 
of the total reported lumber cut of basswood was from these four 
States. Figure 3 shows the rank of the different States in lumber 
production in different years. Figure 4 shows the 1918 lumber 
production b}^ counties. 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 



13 









CC C^ O o cc 
o5 «£ Oi to c^ 



5 rt oi •'J'l 



' ^ ^ r^ *^ 






lO-'J'OCSOS 40 '««' lO 1-* C| CO t^c 



CCC^CCOcD 






« t-» uO -^ iC <o iC •— • 



5S 



88?o 



^ i>- ^ « 00 



CO iO »o 00 Cl 



r*«o 3C ic t^ 

CO X (C ^ r^ 
■^ c^ oi O CO 






"S'*^'*'!' CCCOCIrt 



n"^ S 









(O ^ IC (D ^ 



CO"? X xco 



scO'Hgs coc 



s $ 






Q0c0»OOO 






c^^ooO'^r* io-^tfit^-^ 



■^ aoicr*cp 

01 CO JC 1-1 CT* 

^00O5»O0C 



O CO CD CD CO «p CD "5 ^ f^ t-H -^ o o in 

COOi«-«CO« O-^XXCO CO^00»C^ 



!il 



f»-<iS — CO 

a>r>- OS ^ ^ 



OCNTr OJ05 
CD ^ OS -^ Ol 



U5 -^ OS ^ CO i-hWiCOO t^»OQQ 



;SS2' 



oc CO 1" — -< ■-< 



r~ac« oos 
r*cD ^ r^ r^ 

o »c OS coi-'- 






Ci t- OC OC OS 

CO CI CD OS CO 



CI -^ CD O «-l OS^hOiOO 

r^ If: OS i-< i-i C) 



d CO ^ 'T r^ t^iot^t^x 00 »o OS 11 



s^roS 



CI o •<? CO ac ^ 

o r-wci — to 

-H cocSco ccN 

!S oseococi 



t^ t^ ^ X X 

CI MOiOOS 



coca — 310 oC3;QrtCi 10 CI .0000 



cocDr^^o 00 ^ Q f -- - 

t^a — os-H — pO'^o «.-i ■d 

lOCICOCO i-» N CO i-t — f-< 



00 iO X CO 00 U^lAJC^Hf-H f-4 



01— I 



& 5 

« 3 

s5 



s s 



01 CO CD CO CO 

oc CO 3t — ■* 

CO »0 OS iC CO 



> at' N CI 
•SSos — 



o> Oi r* ■^ ^ 



»«jgcojP oscgj;^^-; 



OSCOCI3COS osr-'^Xco or-coOrH —CI 



SCOCI 3C 

• xicoci 



S!v???? 



2 a 



OS CI CO 00c 

CI lOCiSc 



■^ "OCICO^ 

ub »c X c^ ^H 

CO-«> VCICI 



CO CI x CO r^ 



OSCOOCIO C1XO«OCO COl 
mOCICD* OlOcDCIwi i-HC 

r- — r-t- —■>»< T>< 1-1 



•Ct^cOOSX «t--"Tj<X -hOSCOt1<— i-iCI 



O CD Sc 






S?SS?5* 



tcDcD 9) 
> ^ ^ r^ 

: Oi-^ O 



CD cs X CO Ob 

iC ^ iC CD to 



W^CJCOCD »OC:<-'cD»o N*0 



S2 



S S; 



— t^COOSXX 



OS CO OS OS c 

OS coco CI c 



1 r^r>- r*cD 

5 — O x 35 
■V OSOM O 

'^n'O^o coog 



x X — coco 
or^coci 36 
o -^ — — CO 



JO — CO *o iC r* c 
CI •- OS-* Q xc 
CO r-» CI t^^ iO C 



COOOfCI CiTf — 



t~cO —CI 



TO 8 S 



' CI CI CD O 



XOSd — — 

05c XOS® 
^ xcixo 



I i-l — -^J-CO 

S2 = g8 



t^ CO 01 CD C^ CO CD "^^ 01 
CO ■* « * CD O ^ ci »o 
t-X(NTj«cO CO»Ci-tM 



■ 01 1>- r-o 
CO c^ «o 



01 OOlOlQCO COGCcDCOaO COOSI^CO^ .-I rH t-i 



O) O Oi o> o 



s :f § 



J OS ■^ '^ " 
)*00(DC 
1 QC ^ iO C 



3 lO OOi< 



uocDiOOsX -^CIOCIO t^MiiOCCOO 
55t-cD'*Q ^t^cOOcO ■^OsCl^iO 
QO CI CO CO ^ -^UOOO co*o — CO 



— I^ O «5 OS CO X X ■* IC X X O »0 CO 



X -^cD c5co 



ujxcso- 



* r* X Q c 



ClCICOUJt" 



UO »0 CD O O ■»f o »o 



CO cicor^x— xxcicios r-osO-<j"i-i ci — i-n-i 



3 ••'2 






3 Oi 2 
_C2 3 cs 

J5^Q 



§«cit^ — 
r^ X X ^ 

r--* ci 



— CI CI coco 
CO CI »cci •* 

ci'i-'cT — " 



r^uj ■* o ■«* coo 



CO CI — — o 
r^io ■* Q ■«* 

OXOSOS- 

o^cTt^T 



ONOXO COCliO 
cDOOt^— -<fcoco 
•— ' CO CO CI Co 



<1> 



* 3 

3. a 
^ ? s -^ 



S a ea 






3 8 £!'B p. .5 d b^ : 

o35*o3cfeoc« &'-3'Sfe"Ei S-So-f^-^ EFS==b te?^/::a 5t«b*-3 Sk'=tn° 

B.5^s?;^i^ ^.ii|l.h g-fafeg gE^-a^a sgsg-^ |.a8isg gSs.sq 
H H <! OH ^s^z> eH5o?;M Bh>sss ?;5s5<5 ^^o<^ h^os^ 



14 



BUULETIN 1007, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Table 4. — Number of mills in the different States reporting manufacture of basswood 
lumber iti different years arranged in order of lumber cut for 1918. 



State. 



1907 



1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 



Total. 



14,326 j6,973 



5,423 



5,130 



5,217 



3,336 



3, 129 



2,548 



2,102 



2,202 



2,372 



Wisconsin... 

Michigan 

W . Virginia - . 
New York 
Virginia... 



Tennessee 

Indiana 

Ohio 

N. Carolina .. 
Kentucky 

Pennsylvania 

Vermont 

Minnesota 

Maine 

Maryland 

N.Hampshire 

Iowa 

Massachusetts 
Connecticut 
Arkansas- . . 



Illinois 

Missoui'i . . 
Georgia . . . 
Alabama. . 
Louisiana . 



Te.xas 

New Jersey . 
Oklahoma. . 
Mississippi . . 
AH other 3.... 



627 
548 

295 
(^) 
98 

173 
294 
404 
125 
191 

468 
260 
230 
135 

18 

108 
77 
74 
54 
12 

42 
47 
19 



(a) 



(a) 
619 



(a) 
4 
3 
10 
2 



763 
737 
422 
1,323 
174 

191 

392 
575 
180 
215 

508 
280 
352 
144 
44 

93 

181 
93 
58 
27 



111 
11 
16 



li 

(a) 
16 
1 



631 
583 
348 
948 
171 

143 

249 
447 
141 
207 

379 
280 
264 
118 
22 



111 
60 

58 
12 



14 
17 

(a) 

(a) 



538 
517 
340 
1,067 
147 

151 
231 
393 
122 
160 

378 
279 
240 
136 

18 



17 

(a) 



(a) 



572 
486 
326 
1,025 
107 

146 
250 
460 
153 
152 

430 
279 
251 
154 
17 

83 
109 
52 
36 
9 

17 
64 
6 
19 

(a) 



(a) 
(a) 



375 

277 

165 

1,183 

74 

99 
121 
205 

65 
130 

174 

128 

124 

56 

10 

17 
46 

17 
14 

(a) 

12 
23 
3 

7 
(a) 



(a) 



298 

189 

240 

1,008 

61 

126 
137 
198 
71 
162 

219 
143 

88 

60 

6 

34 
13 
22 
15 
3 

5 
17 

(a) 
11 

(a) 



(a) 



(a) 



286 
213 
191 



71 
142 
191 

56 



220 
177 
73 

82 
7 

48 
49 
29 
15 
(a) 

5 
16 

(a) 
8 
4 

.(a) 
5 

(a) 
3 
6 



269 
217 
187 
708 
57 

59 
142 
174 

87 
99 

195 
163 



10 
13 
3 
5 

(a) 

(a) 

4 

(a) 

(a) 



273 
197 
161 
638 
73 

82 
128 
174 

87 
82 

196 
174 
70 
55 
5 

31 
42 
19 
12 

7 

9 
17 



(a) 



259 
162 
141 
539 
57 

63 
100 
138 
65 
65 

140 
117 

77 
44 



30 
28 
22 
12 
9 

4 

9 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

3 

3 

(a) 
(a) 



251 
158 
137 
532 
56 

(a) 
(a) 
141 

(a) 
(a) 

(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 

(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 

(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 

(a) 
(a) 
(a) 



225 
154 
138 
679 
56 

70 
122 
165 
66 
99 

153 
127 
104 

(a) 
(a) 

(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 

(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 

(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
214 



1 Not including mills in New York. 

2 Not reported. 

3 Includmg Florida, Kansas, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and those marked "a." 

Table 5. — Percentage of basswood lumber manufactured by different classes of mills in 
1918, also number of mills in different classes reporting. 

[Class 5 includes mills cutting 10,000,000 board feet and over per year; class 4, mills cutting from 5,000,000 
to 9,999,000 board feet per year; class 3, 1,000,000 to 4,999,000 board feet; class 2, 500,000 to 999,000 board 
feet; class 1, 50,000 to 499,000 board feet.] 



State. 



United States 

Wisconsin 

Michigan 

West Virginia 

New York 

Virginia 

Tennessee 

Indiana 

Ohio 

North Carolina 

Kentucky 

Pennsylvania 

Vermont 

Minnesota 

All other States 



Total. 



100 



100 
100 
100 
100 
100 

100 
100 
100 
100 
100 

100 
100 
100 
100 



S3 



259 
162 
141 
539 
57 

63 
100 
138 
65 
65 

140 
117 

77 
179 



Class 5. 



104 



Class 4. 



13 

26 

38 

1 

172 



35 
<26 



14 



Class 3. 



15 
7 
22 
17 
13 

13 

2 78 

3 35 
28 
43 

20 

17 

6 20 

26 



267 



Class 2. 



327 



Class 1. 



122 
73 
45 

449 
22 

33 

50 
80 
31 
33 

92 
79 
65 
109 



1 Includes cut of 1 mill in class 5. 

2 Includes cut of 1 mill in class 4. 

3 Includes cut of 2 mills in class 4. 



< Includes cut of 2 mills in class 5. 

' Includes cut of 1 mill in class 5 and 1 mill in class 4 . 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 15 

Table 4 gives the number of mills in the different States reporting 
the manufacture of basswood lumber in different years. New York, 
Pennsylvania, Vermont, Ohio, and Indiana produce relatively small 
amounts in proportion to the number of mills cutting basswood. 
Wisconsin and, to a lesser degree, Michigan produce relatively large 
amounts per mill cutting basswood. 

Table 5 shows the proportionate amounts of basswood lumber 
manufactured by different size-classes of mills in different States in 
1918. There has been a great reduction in the number of mills 
sawing basswood lumber for the last few years, particularl}^ in Ohio, 
Indiana, and Pennsylvania, which indicates that the timber is largely 
cut out in those States. 

Manufacture. — In sawing basswood lumber from the log, manufac- 
turers generally try to get wide, clear stock, for which there is a 
demand. Such stock 2^ and 3 inches in thickness is often wanted 
for special uses. Basswood lumber that is all white brings a better 
price than when the brown wood is mixed with it. 

Practically all basswood logs have a discolored central portion 
(PI. IV, a), and lumber manufacturers generally saw as much wide, 
clear, white stock as possible from two sides of the log down to the 
discolored wood. Narrower stock is then sawed from the other two 
sides. Logs with large hollow or defective centers are sawed simi- 
larly. Such logs will yield as much according to the log scale as 
sound logs, because, in scaling, the central defective portion is de- 
ducted. The sound wood in such a log is often entirely clear; and, 
since the whiter wood is toward the outside, these logs generally 
produce a large percentage of high-grade stock. Probably the most 
common thicknesses of basswood lumber manufactured are 1, 2^, and 
3 inches. 

The quantities of different grades of basswood lumber sawed from 
logs naturally depend on the size and quality of the timber. Reports 
from several large mills in northern Michigan and Wisconsin indicate 
that the average proportions of different grades of basswood lumber 
produced are about as follows: 

Grades: Percent. 

Firsts and seconds 25 

No. 1 common 30 

No. 2 common 25 

No. 3 common 20 

The principal defects found in basswood lumber are black and 
rotten streaks and rotten knots (PI. IV, b, c, d, e). Basswood timber 
has few knots, however, in comparison with most other hardwoods. 
The dark, brown-colored wood near the center of the log is not val- 
ued so highly as the light-colored wood, even though it may be per- 
fectly sound and clear of defects (PI. IV, a, b). Discoloration also 
often takes place in the white wood, which reduces its value. This 



16 BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUBE. 

discoloration does not take place so readily in cold weather, and for 
this reason basswood is cut by some firms mainly in the winter or 
late fall. Some manufacturers claim that where the lumberyard is 
kept in proper condition, well drained and free from undergrowth, 
there is little trouble from the staining of basswood, whether cut in 
winter or summer. It is a common practice not to separate the 
white basswood from the brown until it has been air-dried for 6 sum- 
mer months. The "stickers," or strips, used in piling lumber to keep 
the boards apart for drying may leave a discolored strip or band in 
basswood which is not removed in planing and lessens the value of 
the white wood for certain purposes. This is overcome by some 
firms by end-drying the lumber or pole-drying it for a week or two 
and then placing it in a "stuck" pile. In end-drying, the boards are 
placed on end under a specially built shed with stickers arranged 
horizontally at specified distances. Such a pile presents the appear- 
ance of an ordinary lengthwise lumber pile set on end. In this method 
the stickers are not brought into such close contact with the boards, 
since there is no weight or pressure. In pole-drying, the boards are 
piled almost vertically, crossing each other and supported by a strip 
of timber on which the lower edge of each board rests (PL V, figs. 1 
and 2) . Labor costs are greater in pole-drying than in the ordinary 
methods of piling lumber. 

Basswood logs are very closely utilized in manufacturing into lum- 
ber, especially the outer clear, white, sound wood. Even the strips 
edged from the boards and called "bark strips" are often piled 
together and placed in stock. These bark strips are generally 1 inch 
thick and 2 to 4 inches wide, although some may be as wide as 6 
inches. If of good color and free from defects, this stock is valuable 
to factories making small articles. Small strips of low-grade wood 
about 3 feet in length are sometimes sawed out and sold for crating. 

Sawmill operators generally find it more profitable to manufacture 
lumber from their basswood logs than to sell the logs to factories. 

Grades and prices. — Basswood logs are often separated into two 
grades. No. 1 or veneer logs, and No. 2, which is below the No. 1 
grade. Veneer logs must be quite clear and of good form for rotary 
cutting. They must be at least 1 1 inches in diameter at the small 
end. No. 2 logs can be as small as 6 inches in diameter at the 
small end. 

The National Hardwood Lumber Association grading rules for bass- 
wood lumber apply also to soft elm, soft maple, and buckeye. There 
are six grades: Firsts, seconds, selects, No. 1 common. No. 2 common, 
and No. 3 common. 

Firsts must be 6 inches and over wide, 8 feet and over long. Pieces 
4 to 9 square feet in size, surface measure, must be clear; pieces 10 
to 15 square feet may have one standard defect or its equivalent; and 



Bui. 1007, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



Plate V. 




Fig. I. — Framework Used in Pole Drying. 




Fig. 2. — Method of Pole-Drying Basswood Lumber. 



Bui. 1007, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



Plate VI. 




UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD, 17 

pieces 16 square feet and over may have two standard defects or their 
equivalent. Seconds are also 6 inches and over wide, and pieces can 
have from one to five standard defects or their equivalent for from 
5 to 20 square feet, surface measure, as specified. Firsts and seconds 
are generally combined as one grade, called "firsts and seconds" and 
designated as FAS. In this combined grade there must be at least 
20 per cent of firsts. Lengths are 8 to 16 feet, and there must be 
not more than 20 per cent under 12 feet long and not more than 
10 per cent 8 and 9 feet long. 

The grade " selects" includes pieces 4 inches and over wide and 6 feet 
and over long, with not more than 30 per cent under 12 feet long and 
not over 5 per cent of 6 and 7 foot lengths. In general the best face 
of pieces in selects must grade not below seconds and the reverse face 
not below No. 1 common. Admission into this grade also depends on 
amount of waste caused by defects in each piece. 

Nos. 1, 2, and 3 common grades include pieces 3 inches and over 
wide and 4 feet and over long. No. 1 common must have not to 
exceed 5 per cent of 3-inch widths, with not over 30 per cent shorter 
than 10 feet, and not to exceed 10 per cent of 4 and 5 foot lengths. 
Pieces 4 and 5 feet long, also pieces 3 and 4 inches wide and 6 and 7 
feet long, must be clear of defects. Other pieces must work at least 
663 per cent clear face in from one to four cuttings of specified mini- 
mum sizes, depending on the dimensions of the pieces. No. 2 com- 
mon must have not more than 10 per cent of 4 and 5 foot lengths. 
Pieces must work at least 50 per cent sound in not more than three 
to five cuttings, depending on the size of the piece. Cuttings must 
be at least 3 inches wide by 2 feet long. Pieces in No. 3 common 
grade must contain at least 25 per cent of soimd cuttings, each of 
which must have a minimum width of 1^ inches and a minimum 
surface area of 36 square inches. It is specifically noted in these 
rules that black spots and black streaks are defects in all grades, 
and care must be exercised in estimating their damage, for if any 
piece has an excessive amount its grade will be lowered. 

Table 6 gives average stumpage values of basswood timber for the 
years 1907 and 1912. These are averages of reports from a large 
number of timberland owners. Table 7 gives prices based on many 
reports of actual sales of stumpage in 1912. Prices of maple, birch, 
and beech are included for comparison. Reports obtained on stump- 
age sales in 1920 indicate a considerable increase in prices. Selling 
prices for Michigan and Wisconsin averaged SIO, and an average 
selling price of $19.40 was reported on sales of basswood stumpage 
in Ohio. This high figure for Ohio probably includes small lots of 
choice timber. Reports on sales in States where the timberland has 
been largely cut over show much variation in price. Basswood is 
generally purchased together with other hardwood timber, such as 
64281°— 22— Bull. 1007 3 



18 



BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



yellow poplar, maple, and oak, with which it is found in mixture, 
and the price varies greatly. Prices ranging from $2,50 to $10 a 
thousand board feet for mixed stands were reported from Kentucky, 
Tennessee, and West Virginia. The average value of basswood lum- 
ber per 1,000 board feet f. o. b. mills, obtained from reports of saw- 
mills on lumber production, is given in Table 8, by States, for those 
years in which the data were collected. With the exception of the 
years 1909, 1911, and 1915, this table shows a continuous increase 
in value; increasingly higher values are shown since the year 1915. 
Average prices in Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina are gen- 
erally $1 or $2 a thousand board feet below the average. 

Table 6. — Average stumpage values of basswood for 1907 and 1912, from reports on 
values from timberland owners. 



1907 



1912 



Northeastern States: 

Maine 

New Hampshire. 

Vermont 

New York 

Pennsylvania 



S5.80 
6.25 
4.96 
8.31 
7.59 



(20) 
(18) 
(27) 
(21) 
(41) 



$6.04 (48) 

7.56 (23) 

6.90 (25) 

8. 51 (88) 

8.14 (61) 



Average of 5 States. 

North Central States: 

Ohio 

Indiana 



Average of 2 States. 



Southern Appalachian States: 

Maryland , 

Virginia , 

West Virginia 

Kentucky 

Tennessee 

North Carohna , 



6.68 (127) 


"7.68 (245) 


9.59 (27) 
10.83 (27) 


11.59 (59) 
11.22 (43) 


10.21 (54) 


11.43 (102) 



4.50 
3.33 
3.91 
4.46 
4.04 
1.67 



(3) 

(6) 
(43) 

(3) 
(12) 

(6) 



4.50 
6.33 
4.11 
4.62 
4.22 
3.30 



(4 

(4) 

(9) 

(25) 

(18) 

(23) 



Average of 6 States. 



3.75 (73) 



Lake States: 
Michigan — 

Upper Peninsula 

Lower Peninsula 

Southern tier of counties . 

State average 

Wisconsin. 

Minnesota 



5.61 

8.95 
1.67 
8.26 
6.59 
5.50 



(23) 
(59) 
(6) 
(88) 
(65) 
(10) 



Average of 3 States. 



7. 42 (163) 



4.16 (82) 



9. 57 (86) 
7. 12 (122) 
7. 41 (39) 



8.02 (247) 



The numerals in parentheses indicate the number of reports on which the averages are based. (From 
Department of Agnculture Bulletin 285, The Northern Hardwood Forest, Table 12.) 

Table 7. — Comparative stumpage values per 1,000 board feet of basswood, maple, birch, 

and beech, 1912. 

[From reports of sales collected by the Forest Service.] 



Species. 


North- 
eastern 
States.i 


Southern 
States.' 


Lake 
States.' 


Basswood 


$8.40 
5.98 
5.61 
4.38 


$4.92 
3.45 
3.33 
2.86 


$6.30 


Maple . . 


4.58 


Birch 


4.85 


Beech 


3.67 







1 Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. 

2 Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. 

3 Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 



19 



Table 8. — Average value ofhasswood lumber per 1,000 board feet f. o. b. mills, by States, 

for different years. 





1899 


1904 


1907 


1909 


1911 


1915 


1916 


1917 


1918 


1919 


1920 


United States 


$12.84 


$16.86 


$20.03 


$19.50 


$19.20 


$18.89 $21.05 


$25.96 


$34.00 


$40.03 |$54.28 


Wisconsin 


12.67 
13.08 
12.10 
14.24 
10.21 

10.09 
14.74 
12.21 
12.34 
9.79 

13.34 
12.65 
10.63 
11.09 
11.57 

9.68 
13.12 

9.98 
26.28 
10.00 

13.19 
11.18 
10.71 


16.12 
17.29 
18.09 
17.76 
20.10 

14.97 
32.71 
18.21 
10.13 
13.20 

20.72 
16.37 
13.10 
15.42 
18.67 

18.56 
16.97 
11.00 
12.00 

23.75 
14.33 

■i6.'i2' 


19.62 
20.31 
19.60 
24.00 
19.15 

17.86 
22.27 
20.70 
17.74 


18.97 
21.16 
20.07 
17.88 
18.27 

19.28 
24.38 
22.82 
16.57 


19.03 
20.17 
18.56 
20.81 
15.83 

19.80 
20.40 
20.36 
19.33 
19.19 

20.23 
19.22 
15.67 
18.00 
16.00 

19.33 

18.79 
18.79 
18.50 

19.00 
14.62 
17.33 
18.60 


18.94 21.15 
19.57 22.07 
19.13 20.82 
19. 50 22. 98 
18.81 1 21.18 

17.26 19.76 


26.60 
27.74 
25.43 
25.48 
25.65 

25.21 
27.49 
25.84 
22.96 
23.41 

23.69 
23.68 
19.45 
20.54 
29.16 

22.00 
23.02 
20.38 
16.86 
18.21 

20.79 

ia42 

'26.'6i' 
16.59 

"36."66" 


34.68 
36.04 
35.34 
33.12 
36.13 

32.00 
34.13 
32.34 
30.09 
28.94 

29.33 
32.33 
23.11 

18. 82 
30.19 

31.30 
25.53 
26.49 
22.46 
21.22 

32.50 
23.33 
35.00 
25.06 
18.48 

26.44 
25.00 
27.67 
22.00 


39.78 1 57.05 


Michigan 


42.38 
40.86 
40.36 


56.65 


West Virginia 


60.81 


New York 


50.44 


Virginia . 


37.54 64.16 


Tennessee 


52.87 


Indiana 


21.31 
19.39 
18.24 
18.46 

17.30 
17.71 
16.10 
17.13 
20.00 

17.66 
19.41 


22.80 
22.07 
19.83 
18.07 

20.52 
19.27 
17.15 
17.67 
18.14 

18.34 
20.73 


53.24 


Ohio 


49. 17 50. 14 


North Carolina 


44.81 




18.69 18.11 

20.20 21.63 
17.26 17.07 
17.72 : 17.10 

18.36 17.02 

17.09 15.96 

17.47 16.20 

19.37 19.53 
17.61 16.71 
18.24 17.88 

17.10 21.94 

19. 74 16. 94 

14.38 16.61 
12.68 15.02 
18.72 19.93 


42.36 




53.59 


Vermont 


44.88 


Minnesota . 


38.69 










New Hampshire 








15.21 18.07 
17.88 19.01 
20. 00 20. 38 














18.75 
16.88 
20.09 
18. 36 
16.37 

18.00 
19.60 
15.00 


17.30 
17.87 
18.18 
21.37 
16.61 

18.75 
16.00 
14.00 
15.50 


i 


















20.69 












18.00 
26.75 
16.50 










16.00 


23.54 




















22.50 


18.38 










19.25 














13. 95 
































18.75 










Florida 














35.00 





























Table 9. — Average wholesale prices of basswood lumber per thousand board feet f. o. b. 
mill in Wisconsin and Michigan, by grades, for different years. 





1909 


1910 


1911 


1912 


1913 


1914 


1915 


1916 


Wisconsin: 


$35.72 
24.93 
14.98 
11.96 
21.72 

36.34 
26.29 
18.24 
13.92 
22.96 


$34.66 
23.97 
14.31 


$33.81 
2-. 85 
13.76 


$34.51 
23.58 
16.04 


$37.45 
24.97 
19.50 
17. 30 
25.05 

37.78 
27.11 
19.69 
17.57 
23.03 


$36.20 
24.68 
17.94 
15.51 
20.95 

36.48 
26.63 
19.66 
17.34 
20.94 


$33.79 
22.95 
15.61 
13.05 
19.38 

35.27 
25.05 
18.33 
14.50 
20.34 


$36.08 


No. 1 common 4/4 


25.07 


No. 2 common 4/4 


17.18 




13.99 




21.45 

35.87 

25.88 
17.19 


19.03 

36.37 
25.46 
16.54 


18.81 

35. 82 
24.87 
16.68 




Michigan: 

Firsts and seconds 4/4 . . 


37.88 


No. 1 common 4/4 


27.67 




18.55 




15.87 




22.12 


20.17 


20.06 


21.08 







20 



BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 






s 



•Hi . 

•a * fe 






3 03 t* 
3* 
HO--" 



3 3 « 
Eh !?■" 



CO O ; 






i5 s !s 
3 H ffl 
o S,« 



T3 ^ 



(»o3« 



ss-* 



coooSS 

00 Tji Oi Tji Tf 

00 »0 lO CO cc 



':00000 
OC lO «0 5DCO 



cooooS 

00 >OiC CC CO 



88888 



S8S8S 

00 >OiO COCO 



88888 

to CO 00 CO CO 
00OU5OC0 



OC Oi -^ Oi C3l 
Cl Tt4 to lO^M 

1 sssss 

i2 00 -4 CD -H — i 



SoSSm 

2J N h^ c^ o 

0> «D «0 t>- ■* 



ocSooco pj ooooco 



05 05 -^ osr- 



StDt 



00 lO to CO c^ 



S8888 



000 05 O: ■* 



«o888S 

8' IC O ITS *0 
00*O5T»< 



?S88 

JOOOS-* 



g osiototoco 
ea 

"o 58888 

OOOOOi'^ 



oSoSo 
e4 1>^ «■ t^ 00 

MOi-11-H ^ 



O O o o i;© 



go QOO 
lO ift »c to 

to in" t~i C4 00 



goo C O 
lO lO »0 lO 

1/5 O ic o ?p 

<N OOi-i* 



OO O OO 
»0 IC lO lO to 



CC CO 05 cc o 
00 00 00 00 to 

S' in" t- N CO 
NO« cood 



■* c5 (N cooo 



52Sa? 



S885 



OQr~t^t^ 

lOlOi-Irt r-l 

o' 'J' o 00 00 

CO O-H rt 50 



to to to to o 
C^IMt^M to 

00 ^ t-i IN r-; 

IN O OtHjo 



-H t^ Ci -^ O 
OS ;0 ^ t^ to 



t^ O O Q t^ 
^H to to to 1— I 

o' to' 1^ OO o> 

OS o ^ r*-^ 



o o OO to 

to ^ "-J to 00 
OOcCt-t>--* 



CO o <>» r^ lo 

t* CD CO CO ■^ 



o CO CO CO r* 

lO 00 00 00 CO 

to o6 o lO TjH 

t^ to CD CD "* 



SCO CO CO r- 
COCO CO 1-H 

to ooo to-^ 

t>-iOcDCO'^ 



;88i 



OC to t^ « IN 



1^ O OOco 

o OO oco 

t^ ^* CO »-H ^ 

CC to toco -^ 



t^ O O O CO 
1-1 to to to 00 

t-^cotoo cs 

CD to to CO ^ 



88888 

CO ^' CO* ^ c^ 
^ lO to CO -^ 



88888 

to CO to o^ 
CO to to CO ■^ 



88888 

CD '•sf CC' -H (N 

CD to to :0 ■* 



SSSS8 

tO CO tO O Oi 
CO to to CO CO 



ooooo 
lO tO to to to 



;S8S8 

) ■*■ CC 1-i 55 
> to toco 1^ 



88888 

to fO to O 00 
CO to to CO CO 



o c ooo 

lO tO to to tO 



CO CO CO CO CO 
CO CO CO CO CO 

c4 o (M* r^ o 



CO CO CO CO O 

00 oC' 00 OO t?5 

O 00 q" to* CO 

CO -^ to to CO 



CO CO CO CO CO 
CO CO CO CO CO 

O 00* o to oc 

CO -^ to to CO 



CD CO O O CD 

OS oc c<i t^ CD 



t^r* o o t>- 

rH ^ *OtOl-< 



;8S; 



t^cO O to •* 



00 c^ to to 00 



^ O 00 CO o 

1-H W Tf t^ ^ 



JS3^c 



to 00 00 oc to 

t*0 OOi>» 



to 00 « X to 

o oi c<i V c4 

Tf(N CO COC^ 



to 00 00 OC' to 



■-(N CO CO<N 



CO CO CO CO CO 



00 oc 1-H fOC^ 
CO iM cocoes 



lO to to to 00 
00 OO^CO »-4 

CO c^ cocoes 



^S8SS 

i c4 lo' t^ TjS 

jcocococJj 



lO tO to to 00 
oc 00 ^ CO M 

CO c^ cocoes 



to to to to 00 



00 00^ COi-H 



88SSS 

CO CO CD 00 to 



rt ^^TflCON 

^c<5 cocoes 
aj ■ ^co"«'5f 

M . a aa a 

• 0000 

■O ■ a a a a 

.. G"* 9 " 3 9 
M c3^S S S H 
i- M o o o o 
t?i2-o " " " u 

>-i-g C'^'1'^^ 

•j. .b o d 6 d 6 



OS OS CM ■>*< IN 
CO *» CO CO IN 

2888$ 



to to to to to 
MNNININ 

OS « IN TfS -H 

CON CO CO IN 

CO O O OCD 
>-( OOOOS 

00 06 rf' co' 00 
CONCO COi-l 



ooo8co 
t^c4 r>^iN CO 

IN O OtHCO 



t^O^ CO CO o 
T-< 00 00 OOtO 

t^ 00 CO 00 OS 

■*-HINiNCD 



t^t^cocot^ 

CO CO CO co^ 

t-^ -H t>; IN to 

CM OO-HCO 



CDOOOtO 
to -H CO 00 T(S 
oc CO CD CD-* 



O CO to to r-* 

i-H -<j5cD ^O 
t^ to to CO ^ 



CO OS CM r- CO 

CD ■^ to to CO 



OOOOQ 

totooo io 

CSOO^CDCD 

CO ^ to toco 



o 00 o toco 
CO ^ to toco 



OQOOO 

to to to to to 



CO -^ to toco 



CO CO CO CO CO 
CO CO CO CO CO 

1-^ to t^ CM to 

to -^ -^ to CO 



;S8; 



oosr^cM o 

00 1--^ -< ^06 
^ CO "^ ^ CM 



to 00 00 00 to 

i^ooot- 



CO CM CO CO CM 



00' 00 00 00 00 
to to to to to 

CDCO Os^ OS 
COCMO) COi-H 



CMCMCMCMO 

b^ t>: o ffi c5 

CO CM CO CO CM 



to to to to to 
CM IN CM CM CM 

00 00 -H CO o 
CO CM CO CO CM 

2888$ 

•-H r^ c5 CM hi 

CO CM COCOrH 




UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 



21 



fegSSS 



r^ S o oo 
r* •<*< ^ oc^ 






8S88S 



S888S 8¥888 



Q OOMOOOO 
00 'J' u-t iO M 



:5?S5i 



88888 
888SS? 

OQodrc CO o 
oo»o co«co 

«>8888 

3' CJ X M CO 
X 00 35 ^ 

SSSS5 

X cc X r^ •* 

88888" 
SSS8$^ 



88S8S 



88885? 

00 ic lO <o c-a 



sssss? 



?d8888 



58888 

8o ^ Cl Cl 
t>-oo«co 



58888 

^ iC Q lO IC 



oS8S<o 



8S88o 

T^05 -^ g? o 



8SS8S 

O iC Q »0 O 



o oooo 
lO *o i.t »o »o 

"■ r-: «■ <p c-j 



»c r^ -H CD r^ 



S?S88a 

SooSS 



lO o o >o 
i-< ^" c^ t^ c<i 



88888 






co « w coo 



CO cc cc CO re 
cc cc coco oC 

^88:i3 






r* wrocOQ 

<0 CO CO CO O 

r* 05 ^ ^ o 

•f ^ C^ CS X 



t^ CO Qr*o 

O CO OO O 



«oo8S 
00 ?o ^ i© ^ 



;S88S 



«>SS8S 



S; 



58SSS 

Tp X o -^r^ 



w -r o ^ O 
r* uo »o <o "^ 



8 CO CO CO t^ 
CO coco^ 

-H '^ CD -^ <:^ 
I^ lO to o ^ 



I^QO QCO 
F-i lO iC »0 CO 

^ r>» o> ^' CO 



coo>c^r*<^ 

;D ■^ lO iC CO 



S ■* >o »oco 



rnSSSx 



• C O Q C 
50 O OC 



OOOCO 
iO»OOOiC 

O X -J td o 



SiC*COiO 



8QCOiO«D 
'^O »0 CO 



lo iJ5 iS u5 »o 
t^»or^cico 

to -^ -^lOCO 



88888 






lo "io io » 



io >0 io to OC 



iS K 25 26 35 



25 u5 25 lo 3D 
o x' o »o r^ 

O "«»' lOU^ CO 



lO io 4?5 u5 »o 
t>^ lo r^ c^ CO 

UO-^^OCO 



88888 

3' C^ '^ Oi Q 
iC *o iC ■^ 



88888 

■^ (N ■* OJ ci 
<0 "O ^ to ^ 



CO CC CC C*5 CO 
CO CO CO CO CO 



UlTJi'^lOCO 



cs ;o o o ;£> 

V CO t^ c^ ^ 

ift Tj< <Ji U5 CO 



CO CO CO CO CO 
CO CO CO CO CO 

o Tji Tjiirs CO 



o5 otoioioo 
iS> ■»'■*■* CO 



CO !C O 0;0 



ISEI 



' CO t^C^ 1-H 



oc 36 00 i6 » 
Oi r^ OS ^ r* 

lO ^ Tf iC CO 



r* t^ o Q t-' 

1— I ^ uO »0 -^ 

r^ :D O^ --r -^ 

uO ■* ^ *0 CO 



00 (N 10 10 00 
O OS l^ CM o 



OOiM iC uO 00 
O OS I^ iM O 



-*tiCO '*'*CM 



»o to oi ^ lO 
■^coco ^c5 



C^li-O >o « Cl 
•^ C-J C4 "O -J 

*C ^ ^ ^ CO 



in X oc xio 

t~oo Or- 



eo c^ CO coc 



•C X X X o 



r-ioxooi 
COfNOl co»-t 



•O X X X «o 

t^o c or- 

rt o ■^ ■c c^' 

■4>coco :oc^ 



OC XX X 00 
10 10 to »o to 

<0;D 05 f-^ OS 



X XX xr- 

00000 



rft ^ !>• 05 r* 
W C<1 <M N .-( 



X X X X X 

to to to tC to 

a! X ^ ^6 —H 

CO c< cocoes 



»o to to to X 
(NC^C^IC^O 



t^t^ooio 



> to to to X 



t~t~0!NO 
CO C^ CO CO c^ 



to to to to X 



to to to to X 

Nf4csc^ o 

05 o5 c-i ■fl< c4 

cofl mcoc^ 



to to to to to 

06 0(3-^ CO c5 
CO (N CO cool 



eoo< 
.-iO< 



f~t^O (N 0> 
COC^ CO CO i-H 

8 ' ^<0"00"-* 

" : c c c cj 

.0000 
•O ■ a a a fl 

<s5f S 9 S B 

.. =" m O O O O 

O fO o o o o 
M'g H ■-< -( -H (N 

g .!3 o d 6 6 d 



to to to to r>» 

00 00^ CO <^ 
COCS COCOrt 



CO ^ CO CO to 

«0 O !0 cor* 
to to x5 id r^ 

COMC^COrt 



2888S 

t^ t^ c5 c4 r>^ 

COC4CO CO ^ 



C 5 03^ 



ftP-l 



O O 1 
o O I 



X ■»< 

a a 
o o 

sa 



5 d d 



^5 



3.S 



) to to to tm 



l^to'oo^ 

• c fl n fl 

• 0000 

^ q S a n 

^aaai 

K o o o o 
_j o u u o 

00000 



lA lA lC L 



2S88S 

COMCOCO-^ 

S ;-$"to5cr5f 

" .a a a a 
• 0000 

"H-^saaa 
.. 03 5^8 a a a 

« m O O O O 
iJ.tj o o o o o 



CQ 



22 



BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 



Table 11. — Average wholesale prices of basswood and yellow poplar for different years 
and quarter-years, 4/4 inch, No. 1 common grade at Chicago. 



Year. 


Bass- 
wood. 


Yellow 
poplar. 


Year. 


Bass- 
wood. 


Yellow 
poplar. 


1912 


$27.00 
28.25 
27.25 
26.58 


$34.88 
34.71 
32.67 
31.25 
33.25 

34.50 
38.17 
39.50 
41.00 

42.67 
45.50 
49.33 
.56.50 


1919: 


$48.50 
49.50 
54.33 
61.00 

101. 00 
117.83 
97.50 
99.00 

79.00 
54.00 
48.00 
46.00 




1913 


$55. 17 
56 50 


1914 




1915 




63 50 


1916 


28.08 

33.17 
40.17 
35.67 
42.67 

43.67 
45.33 
48.50 
48.50 




72.67 


1917: 

First quarter 


1920: 


106 67 


Second quarter 

Third quarter 


Second quarter 


123. 00 


Third quarter 


107 50 


Fourth quarter 




86.67 


1918: 

First quarter 


1921: 

First quarter 


75 00 


Second quarter 




55.67 


Third quarter 




49 33 


Fourth quarter 




54 C7 









Table 12. — Production of basswood veneer. 





Wood 

used, log 

scale. 


Veneer produced. 


Cost per 
l,000feet. 


Year. 


Rotary. 


Sawed or rp . , 
sliced, i ^°'^'- 


1905 


Mfeet. 
11,376 
15,659 
13, 561 
11,609 
13,715 
11, 003 
11,602 
11,134 


Msq.ft. 


Msq.ft. Msq.ft. 
: 82,925 




1906 


72, 158 
75,203 


1,285 73, 4' 3 
2, 790 7?, 993 


$15.84 


1907 


18.00 


1908 . .. . 


20.16 


1909 






20.20 


1910 






1 




1911 








1919 . . . ... 

















Table 13. — Consumption of basswood for veneer, by States and years, in thousand board 

feet. 



State. 


1906 


1907 


1908 


1909 


Wisconsin 


8,979 
2,699 
1,505 
1,132 
150 

146 
25 
136 
100 
24 


7,480 

2,282 

1,377 

620 

365 

720 
131 
239 
64 
40 


4,929 

1,686 

2,204 

864 

785 

300 
330 
246 
29 
80 

30 


5,7S3 


Michigan.. 


3,660 


Maine . . 


1,199 




1,139 




482 


Ohio 


428 




175 




163 




90 




50 




25 




200 
100 
152 


10 
100 

8 


10 




12 


8 




3 




50 

15 
10 






















50 


75 

50 












260 

1 




















Total 


15,659 


13, 561 


11,609 


13, 715 







UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 23 

In Table 9 are given average wholesale prices of different grades of 
basswood lumber per 1,000 board feet f. o. b. mill in Wisconsin and 
Michigan for the years 1909 to 1916, as reported by sawmills in those 
States. 

Table 10 gives prices of 4/4 firsts and seconds, of 4/4, 6/4, and 8/4 
No. 1 common and of 4/4 No. 2 common from 1912 to 1920, in different 
markets, as published by the Lumberman's Bureau. For comparsion 
Table 11 gives prices, from the same source, of 4/4 No. 1 common 
basswood and yellow poplar at Chicago. 



Statistics on production. — Table 12 gives available statistics of the 
Census on the production of basswood veneer for different years. The 
quantities of veneer produced and the costs are included, where 
reported. The consumption of basswood for veneer, by States, is 
given in Table 13 for the years 1906 to 1909, inclusive, which are the 
only years for which these data are available. Wisconsin and Michi- 
gan were the main States producing basswood veneer in 1909; and 
they are also the main producing States at the present time, because 
the main timber supply is located in this region. 

Manufacture. — Basswood is converted into veneer almost entirely 
by the rotary process. Logs for veneering should be at least 10 inches 
in diameter at the small end and reasonably clear, straight, and round 
(PI. VI). Hollow logs can be used, however, if the hollow is not too 
large and there is a thick rim of sound wood. A solid wood plug is 
driven into the ends of such logs, so that they can be turned in the 
veneer lathe. The logs are commonly cut into sections about 4 feet 
long and the usual thicknesses of veneer are from one-fourth to one- 
sixteenth of an inch. The cost of basswood veneer logs during the 
summer of 1920 was about $70 or $75 per 1,000 board feet, log scale, 
in the Lake States, the price depending largely on the quality and 
location of the timber. Some veneer plants buy woods-run logs and 
saw the lower grade, unsuitable for veneer manufacture, into lumber, 
which they are frequently able to utilize at the plant. Woods-run 
logs cost about $50 a thousand board feet in the summer of 1920. 

Basswood is well liked for the manufacture of veneer because it 
cuts easily. Basswood logs can be sliced into veneer without boiling. 
In the spring and early summer the logs peel readily, so that no 
steaming is required. The veneer cores are usually sawed into lum- 
ber which some firms convert into cores for cabinet panels or which 
may be made into small articles such as bottoms and covers of small 
baskets and boxes. 

Uses. — Basswood veneer is used as plywood where several plies are 
glued together; it makes a very high-grade, light-weight panel. It is 



24 



BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRlCIJLTUBE. 



also used for drawer bottoms and mirror backing, because it is not 
inclined to warp excessively when used in this way. Thick veneer is 
used for core stock on which cabinet veneers are glued. Basswood 
veneer is used for the separators of storage batteries and for small 
cheese boxes. 

Table 14.— Consumption of basswood for excelsior, by States, 1911. 



state. 



Cords. 



Wisconsin . . . 

Ohio 

Iowa 

New York . . . 
Pennsylvania 



15, 770 
3,960 
3,784 
2,772 
1,671 



State. 



Michigan 

Virginia 

New Hampshire 
All other States. 

Total 



Cords. 



1,590 
60 
25 

3,410 



33,042 



EXCELSIOR. 



Statistics on production. — Statistics of the Bureau of the Census on 
the production of excelsior are available only for the year 1911. Table 
14 gives these statistics by States. The 33,000 cords of basswood 
consumed in that year in excelsior manufacture is equivalent to 
about 16,000,000 board feet of lumber. This was nearly one-fourth 
of the entire amount of wood reported for excelsior manufacture. 
Cottonwood and aspen grouped together and yellow pine were used 
in larger quantities, according to these statistics. When the different 
species are separated, however, aspen ranks first, basswood second, 
black Cottonwood third, and the common cottonwood fourth. 

Wisconsin is the main State in the manufacture of basswood ex- 
celsior; for 1911 nearly one-half of the entire amount used for this 
purpose in the United States was reported for that State. Mills 
making basswood excelsior are now located principally in northern 
Wisconsin. 

Manufacture. — Excelsior is commonly termed ''ribbon veneer," 
because it is composed of thin strands shaved from the surface of the 
wood. Requirements for excelsior are that it be elastic or resilient 
and light in weight and color. It is also preferred free from odor, 
although for some purposes, such as furniture packing, a slight odor 
is not objectionable. The quality most demanded is resiliency or 
"life" — that capacity of being compressed into a small volume and 
of expanding after being so compressed. Wood for the manufacture 
of excelsior should be light in weight, not brittle, soft, straight-grained 
and preferably free from odor. A light-colored wood is also desirable. 
Basswood meets the requirements of an excelsior wood better than 
any other timber and produces the best grades. 

The scarcity and high price of the wood prevent its use in larger 
quantities. Excelsior manufacturers in regions where basswood 



UTrLIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 25 

timber grows find it increasingly difficult to get supplies. Even in 
southern Wisconsin and Michigan there is little now obtainable, 
and firms in northern Wisconsin, which is probably the region in 
which the best supplies are located, find it necessary to use mainly 
other woods. 

W^ood for the making of excelsior is used in the form of the bolt, 
from which the excelsior is shaved by a special machine. The surface 
of the bolt is first scored by means of a series of steel teeth set the 
same distance apart as the width of the excelsior strand. The slicing 
knife then shaves off the excelsior in the finished form. Basswood 
bolts for making excelsior generally go into the machine 18 inches 
long, and the bolts are therefore purchased in lengths which are 
multiples of 18 inches with about an inch allowance for trimming 
the ends. 

Basswood bolts are purchased either with the bark, or peeled, a 
somewhat higher price being paid for the peeled. In unpeeled bolts 
the wood is marketed in the green condition. The bark must be 
removed while the timber is green in order to peel thoroughly. 
Peeled basswood should be well seasoned before it goes into the 
machine. Manufacturers prefer not to buy excelsior wood which 
has air-seasoned for more than two years, however, because it may 
become brittle. Kiln-dried wood is apt to be brittle if it has been 
subjected to too high temperatures, and for this reason the air- 
seasoned wood is preferred. 

Specifications for basswood for excelsior generally call for 37 and 
55 inch lengths, either green and unpeeled or dry and peeled, the 
sticks to be sound, reasonably straight, and free from large knots. 
Sticks must be not less than 4 inches in diameter at the small end. 
Sizes up to 6 inches in diameter are left roimd; sizes from 7 to 12 
inches are split in halves; pieces over 12 inches are split into fom' or 
more pieces. 

The average yield of excelsior from a cord of basswood is about 
1,600 or 1,700 pounds, depending on the dimensions of the bolts 
and the coarseness of the strands. This is below the average for all 
woods, which is about 2,000 pounds. 

Waste. — The weight of a cord of air-dry basswood free of bark 
compared with the weight of its yield in excelsior shows a waste of 
approximately 30 per cent in manufacture. This waste results 
chiefly from squaring the bolts, trimming off knots and other defects, 
and from the loss of the small slab or ''spalt" by which the dogs 
hold the bolt during the operation of slitting and slicing the excelsior. 
Even this small piece is often utilized by cutting it into paper-roll 
plugs, which go into the ends of rolls of wi'apping and roofing papers. 
Uses. — Excelsior is used largely for packing glass, earthenware, 
and other commodities for shipment. It is also used for mattresses, 
04281°— 22— Bull. 1007 4 



26 



BULLETTlSr 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the upholstery of furniture and vehicles, kennel and stable bedding, 
for decorative purposes in shop windows, stuffing dolls and toy 
animals, as a substitute for absorbent lint used in surgery, for filtra- 
tion purposes, and to a hmited extent for woven floor coverings. 
Basswood excelsior sells for the highest prices and serves mainly 
for the higher class of uses, such as the better grades of excelsior 
upholstery. Basswood makes a very good grade of wood wool, 
which is the name applied to excelsior composed of very fine strands, 
and in this form it is useful as absorbent lint and for packing fragile 
articles. 

Table 15. — Consumption of basswood for paper pulp for different years. 



Data. 


1916 


1917 


1918 


1919 


1920 


Average cost per cord f. o. b. mill 


$9.57 
Cords. 


$8.95 
Cords. 


$13. 81 

Cords. 
1,017 

8,922 

171 

2,000 


$16.13 

Cords. 
734 
4,629 


$18. 39 




Cords. 
1 594 


New York 


976 

10,405 

100 


3,698 
109 


4,666 


Pennsylvania 


All other States 


4,436 


4 209 








Reduced by: 


11,481 


3,807 


12, 089 
21 


9,201 
479 
119 


10 469 






Sulphite process 


















Total used 


11,481 


3,807 


12, 110 


9,799 


10 469 







PULPWOOD. 



Statistics on the use of basswood for paper pulp are available for 
the years 1916 to 1920, inclusive, and are given in Table 15. These 
figures show a wide fluctuation in the use of basswood, both by 
States and for different years. The amount of basswood converted 
into paper pulp is very small in comparison with both the total 
amount of wood used for pulpwood and the total annual consump- 
tion of basswood for all purposes. 

Basswood is peeled free of bark before being sent to the pulp mill. 
It is converted into pulp almost entirely by the soda process and 
produces a high-grade product, principally book, magazine, and writ- 
ing paper. It is well adapted for pulp manufacture, because of the 
softness and light color of the wood and its freedom from resin, 
which enable it to be bleached readily into high-grade stock. 



SLACK COOPERAQK. 



Basswood is well adapted for the heading of slack barrels, because 
it holds its shape well and is easily worked. Its light weight and 
light color also make it desirable for this purpose. Basswood is not 
suitable for barrels designed to hold heavy contents, such as castings 
and cement; it is used mainly for containers of food products. It is 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 



27 



preferred above all other woods for flour-barrel headings, because of 
its clean appearance. It makes a fairly tight barrel, because of its 
freedom from warping. Basswood is superior to yellow poplar for 
this purpose, because the latter wood is more liable to split. The 
best, or No. 1, heading for such barrels is usually of basswood. It is 
often used with cottonwood staves, and these two woods make a 
very clean and attractive-looking barrel. 

Table 16 gives quantities and value of basswood heading produced 
in the years 1906 to 1911, inclusive, and in 1919, as reported by the 
Bureau of the Census, and in 1918 as reported by the Forest Service. 
There has been a large reduction in the amount of basswood used for 
heading in recent years, which can be ascribed to the scarcity and high 
price of the stumpage of this timber. Wisconsin, Michigan, and Min- 
nesota have reported the largest quantities. Nearly all of that re- 
ported in 1919 was manufactured in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The 
production of basswood staves and hoops is also given in Table 16 for 
years in which it was reported for these purposes. Its use for staves 
and hoops in former years was due to its plentifulness rather than to 
its particular adaptability for these products, and in the industry it 
is now confined to heading alone. Cooperage manufacturers in the 
Lake States generally purchase the timber in the form of stumpage 
and in mixture with other species, such as beech, birch, and maple. 
Such timber in Minnesota has recently been purchased by cooperage 
firms for $8 or S9 per acre. 

Table 16. — Production of basswood slack-cooperage stock and value for different years. 





Heading. 


Staves. 


Hoops. 


Year. 


Number 
(thou- 
sand 
sets). 


Value 

per 1,000 

sets. 


Rank. 


Number 
(thou- 
sands). 


Value 
per 1,000. 


Rank. 


Number 
(thou- 
sands). 


Average 

value 
per 1,000. 


1906 


15, 653 
9,585 
10,186 
13, 910 
18,000 
10, 014 
2,251 
3,078 


$47. 11 
59.65 
60.04 
55.84 

(") 


4 
5 
5 
4 


8,307 
18, 640 

6,306 
72, .537 


$5. 31 
7.00 
5.63 
5.48 


12 

12 
15 

8 






1907 






1908 






1909 


30 


$7.00 


1910 


1911 


s 












1918 


6 










1919 


(') 1 6 




















.. 





1 Approximate. 

2 Data not obtained. 



28 



BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 



Table 17 .—Annual consumption of basswood in the United States by secondary indus- 
tries for different classes of uses. 



Industry. 



Boxes and crates 

Planing-mill products, sash, doors, 
blinds, and general niillwork 

Woodenware, novelties, and dairy- 
men's, poulterers', and apiarists' 
supplies 

Furniture 

Trunks and valises 

Picture frames and molding 

Musical instniments 

Toys 

Agricultural implements 

Fixtures 

Vehicles and vehicle parts 

Matches 

Refrigerators and kitchen cabinets 

Car construction 

Laundry appliances 

Tobacco boxes 

Boot and shoe findings 

Caskets and cofftns 

Professional and scientific instruments 
Handles 

Shuttles, spools, and bobbins 

Chairs and chair stock 



Quantity 

used 
annually. 



Feet b. m. 
86,979,611 

60, 557, 122 



58,563,923 
33,146,276 
21, 164, 406 

20,340,700 
10, 968, 180 
8, 739, 242 
7, 861, 750 
7,114,755 

6, 418, 308 
5,575,000 
5,221,634 
5, 148, 521 
4,980,670 

4,281,250 
3, 599, 200 
2, 728, 038 
2,619,070 
2, 285, 885 

1,947,000 
1,758,338 



Industry. 



Machine construction. 
Ship and boat building. 

Brushes 

Shade and map rollers.. 



PuUeys and conveyors 

Printmg material 

Sporting and athletic goods 

Sewing machines 

Electrical machinery and apparatus. 



Plumbers' woodwork. 
Dowels , 

Patterns and flasks 

Signs and supplies 

Saddles and harness.. , 



Gates and fencing , 

Weighing apparatus , 

Dry kilns , 

Whips, canes, and umbrella sticks. 
Elevators 



Tanks and sUos. 
Artificial limbs. . 



Total. 



Quantity 

used 
annually. 



Feet b. m. 

Clocks 1,415,000 

■ ■ 1,155,403 

959, 000 
758, 300 
702, 500 

625,000 
352, 600 
318, 600 
310, 000 
299,000 

245, 000 
167,500 
123, 500 
100,000 
52,000 

50, 0(10 
35, 000 
35,000 
32,500 
10,000 

5,000 
1,000 



369, 750, 782 



SECONDARY INDUSTRIES. 

Statistics have been collected by the Forest Service covering the 
use of lumber by factories in the manufacture of various wooden 
products during the years 1909 to 1913. Figures on the annual con- 
sumption of basswood during this period are shown in Table 17 by 
classes of industries and in Table 18 by States. The quantities of 
basswood used for these different purposes are generally less at the 
present time than these statistics give. It is believed, however, that 
the figures show in a comparative way the importance of the differ- 
ent industries in the use of basswood, except as noted in the text. 
A detailed list of the reported uses of basswood by the industries is 
given in the Appendix. 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 



29 



Table 18. — Anmial consumption of basswood in the United States by secondary indus- 
tries, by States. 



State. 



Wisconsin 

New York 

Michigan 

Illinois 

Minnesota 

Ohio 

Pennsylvania . 

Indiana 

Kentucky 

Tennessee 

Maine 

Massachusetts 

Vermont 

Maryland 

New Jersey . . . 
West Virginia 



Quantity 
used annu- 
ally. 



Feetb. m. 
86, 100, 203 
56, 977, 220 
56, 432, 782 
50, 905, 500 
24, 278, 769 

22, 833, 367 
18,698,836 
12,927,003 
6, 642, 000 
6, 028, 833 

4, 773, 100 
4, 399, 000 
4, 247, 630 
4, 202, 050 
4,056,315 
3, 968, 450 



Connecticut 

Iowa 

New Hampshire 

Virginia 

Missouri 

Rhode Island 

Delaware 

District of Columbia 

North Carolina 

South Carolina 

Louisiana 

Washington 

Nebraska 

All other States 

Total 



Quantity 
used annu- 
ally. 



Feeth. m. 
3, 559. 598 
3, 237, 040 
3, 096, 826 
1,591,90(1 
1, 527, 587 

909, 000 
707, 839 
359, 0.50 
265, 000 
165, 000 

100,000 
107, 000 
103, 489 
317,895 



383, 578, 282 



BOXES AND CRATES. 



Woods suitable for the construction of boxes and crates are divided, 
on the basis of their physical and mechanical properties, into four 
groups. Basswood falls mto the first group, including the lighter 
woods, which vary in average weights when thoroughly air-dry from 
21 to 35 pounds per cubic foot, are soft and easily worked, hold 
nails moderately well, and do not readily split in nailing. Both 
softwoods (conifers) and hardwoods (broadleaf trees) are represented 
in this group. 

Basswood is very desirable for certain kinds of boxes on account 
of its light weight, white color, and freedom from odor. Its good 
working qualities, freedom from excessive warping and splitting, as 
compared with other light-weight woods, and good nailing qualities 
also help to make it valuable box material. For boxes in which 
heavy merchandise must be shipped or which must stand much rough 
handling, such as boxes for export shipment, stronger and therefore 
heavier woods are demanded. 

For boxes made to hold foodstuffs, such as crackers, chocolate, 
and candy, basswood is the ideal wood. In such boxes the contents 
are often in direct contact with, the wood, and no odor or taste is 
imparted by basswood. Basswood is also used for shipping other 
kinds of provisions, such as dressed poultry and butter, because of 
its odorless quality. Boxes for this purpose are sometimes made 
from cheaper resinous woods and paraffined on the inside, but this 
process is expensive. Yellow poplar is used for such boxes, also 
Cottonwood and tupelo. although the last two woods are much in- 
clined to warp. 



30 BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

It is a common practice for manufacturers to make the shipping 
box serve as an advertisement for their products. Basswood makes 
an attractive box, and stenciling or printing shows to good advantage 
on the wood. White pine is the old reliable box wood, but it splits 
more readily than basswood. Boxes for holding bottles, particu- 
larly those containing soft drinks, are often made of basswood, because 
holes can be bored in the wood very close together in the same piece 
without splitting, and it holds its shape well even when alternately 
wet and dry. 

Basswood has the disadvantage however, of discoloring, and of 
molding and decaying readily in damp situations, and this makes it 
unsatisfactory for many kinds of boxes. If left in contact with the 
ground, especially if the ground is wet, basswood will soon decay. 
For shipments which are likely to be subjected to considerable mois- 
ture, therefore, including bottled and canned goods, basswood is not 
altogether suitable. 

Basswood is not used in as large quantities for boxes as several 
other woods, because of its comparative scarcity and high price. 
Of white pine and yellow pine, the main box woods, about one billion 
board feet each are used annually for boxes and crates, and the 
annual consumption of basswood for the same use is probably between 
50 million and 100 million board feet. Yellow poplar, cottonwood, 
and several other woods are used in larger quantities for boxes than 
basswood, because the supply of the latter wood is much less and 
the price generally higher. It is not usually made into large packing 
boxes, but its use is largely confined to small, special boxes where 
the desirable qualities of the wood can be made to serve to best 
advantage. In basswood, the lower grades, which in other species 
make up the bulk of the box material, are unfortunately not suited 
to the manufacture of some of the main kinds of boxes for which it 
is valued, because of defects, such as dark and decayed streaks, which 
are usually present in the low-grade stock. Box makers, therefore, 
generally prefer to use other woods, such as yellow poplar, cotton- 
wood, aspen, sap gum, and tupelo. 

Box factories prefer the No. 1 common lumber grade. On account 
of the high price, however, they generally use No. 2, and even No. 
3 common. Usual thicknesses of basswood lumber for boxes are 
three-eighths, one-half, and thirteen-sixteenths of an inch. Narrow 
widths can often be utilized. Up to a few years ago, factories in 
Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois obtained the greater part of their bass- 
wood from Wisconsin and Michigan. These factories now depend 
for the most part on West Virginia for this timber. On account of 
the more limited supplies of this wood and greatly increased freight 
costs, the use of basswood in this section is being greatly curtailed. 
Even box factories of Michigan and Wisconsin now find it difficult 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. , 31 

to get sufficient quantities. Recently box manufacturers in the 
Lake States have been using aspen, commonly called "popple," in 
place of basswood. The aspen must be used in narrow widths. 

Box makers use the grading rules of the various lumber associa- 
tions in the purchase of lumber. For box shooks, however, grading 
rules have been drawn up for different woods by the National Asso- 
ciation of Box Manufacturers. There are four grades for basswood 
shooks — clear. No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, as follows: 

Clear grade. — Lumber in the clear grade of boxes must be prac- 
tically free from knots, and must be of good color, running largely 
to white basswood. This grade may contain, however, 15 to 20 
per cent of red color, but must not contain black or browTi. 

Grade No. 1. — Lumber in grade No. 1 of boxes must be good, 
sound material of mixed colors, light and browTi, and should con- 
tain at least 50 per cent of reasonably light-colored basswood. 
Small, sound knots are allowed in this grade, and some stain. 

Grade No. 2. — Lumber in grade No. 2 of boxes must be reasonably 
strong but shall not be graded as to color. Brown basswood can 
prevail in this grade; small knots and shake can prevail, but not in 
sufficient quantities to materially weaken pieces. Some stain is 
allowed in this grade. 

Grade No. 3. — Lumber in grade No. 3 of boxes is not graded as 
to color. Black knots and stain are allowed in this grade. 

Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, and Minnesota use bass- 
wood in largest amounts for box manufacture. 

Baskets, mainly those for holding grapes and berries, are often 
made of basswood. The splints are sometimes of this wood because 
of its good working qualities and good appearance; more often, 
however, the sides are of some tougher wood, as birch or maple. 
The covers and bottoms of such baskets are quite commonly of 
basswood, because it is light in weight and nails easily. These 
parts, since they are small, can often be made from waste in the 
manufacture of other basswood articles. Low-grade basswood is 
often used for crates. It is well suited for light crating, and narrow- 
width material can be used \evy advantageously for this purpose. 

PLANING MILL PRODUCTS, SASH, DOORS, BLINDS, AND GENERAL MILLWORK. 

Basswood has been a favorite wood for many years for planing 
mill products, sash, doors, blinds, and general millwork, particularly 
for inside finish, becasue it machines to a smooth surface when 
seasoned, keeps its shape well, and takes finishes extremely well. 
It is one of the best woods for enamel work because of its uniform, 
clear, light color, smooth finish, and even texture, which absorbs 
and holds the paint evenly and well. It also finishes well mth other 
paints and varnish. There is a greater demand for figured wood 
for these products, such as that of red gum, birch, and oak. Much 



32 BUULETIlSr 100*7, V. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUBE. 

basswood is used, however, for interior woodwork, especially for 
ceiling and in the form of wide boards for finishing and panel work. 
On account of its adaptability to cutting with tools, basswood serves 
well for moldings and carved work in interior finish of various kinds. 
Much basswood is also manufactured into bevel siding, but it is not 
so well adapted to exterior work because of its liability to decay. 

Michigan and New York lead in the manufacture of this class of 
products from basswood. Formerly much basswood was used for 
this purpose in Ohio, but increasing scarcity and cost of shipment 
have greatly reduced the quantities going into the industry. Rising 
costs of the upper clear grades have had much to do with discourag- 
ing its use, for the dark-colored and streaked material of the lower 
grades is much less valuable for these purposes. Yellow poplar, 
birch, and the softer grades of pine are now generally used in place 
of basswood. 

WOODENWARE AND NOVELTIES. 

Basswood is made into articles of woodenware used in the ship- 
ment of provisions, such as pails and tubs. It is well liked for such 
uses, because it is light in weight and odorless, and the light color 
of the wood makes a good appearance. On account of its good 
working qualities, it is easy to manufacture into such products. It 
also has the advantage of showing stenciling extremely well. The 
light weight of the wood effects a large saving in freight, both when 
shipped empty to the purchaser and when filled with provisions. 

Basswood is the favorite wood for candy pails, because it gives 
an appearance of cleanliness. For the same reason it is used for 
jelly pails, called ''jelly kits," which are used for the shipment of 
jelly in bulk. Most liquids will seep tlirough basswood, but jelly 
hardens in the wood and prevents the liquid from coming through. 
Fish pails and pickle pails are sometimes made of basswood, in which 
case they must be paraffined to make them water-tight. Such pails 
are made more commonly of a hard pine. Lard pails, lard tubs, 
and grease pails are commonly made of basswood. They are usually 
varnished on the outside and given a finish to resemble the grain of 
oak or some other hardwood. Candy pails are sometimes grained 
in this way also. Fish, pickle, and jelly pails are usually painted 
or decorated in some characteristic manner. 

Generally only the sides and covers of these pails are of basswood. 
The bottoms are usually made of Norway pine, maple, or birch. A 
fairly hard wood is necessary for the bottoms in order to bear the 
weight of the contents of the pail and to make a tight, rigid joint. 
The staves for the sides of these pails are cut from basswood bolts 
by a tight-stave circular saw. After bemg thorouglily dried they 
are trimmed to the proper length and width and a small tongue and 
groove made along the edge on the two sides (fig. 5). They are 



Bui. 1007, U. S. Dept of Agriculture. 



Plate V!!. 



( 



'i' 




Bui. 1007, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



Plate VIII. 




Top of 17-Inch Diameter Basswood Log with a 4-Inch Rim of Sound 
Wood. Hollow Logs with a Shell of Sound Wood as Narrow as 4 
Inches are Accepted by Some Factories. 



UTILIZATION^ OF BASSWOOD. 



33 










i 




'■•'.''-'•.■"liH.VVy/lV ■,■..■;,, :.-'MSfi, 




Edge View 

i'lG, 5.— Rough and finished candy pail staves. 




34 BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEB. 

then assembled to form the partly finished pail, which is grooved 
inside to receive the bottom and outside for the wire bands. This is 
next turned smooth and sanded inside and out, the bottom inserted, 
and the bands put on. 

Dark basswood can be used for these pails as well as light. The 
wood must be quite clear, but small, tight knots are not objection- 
able. The timber usually comes to the factory in the form of logs. 
Some firms buy only No. 2 logs, which is the grade below the veneer- 
log grade, since they can use sizes as small as 6 inches in diameter 
at the small end. They prefer woods-run logs, however, if these 
are not too high-priced (PI. VII) . The pail covers are generally made 
from the waste in manufacturing staves. Hollow logs, which are 
quite characteristic of basswood, can be utilized to good advantage, 
because the outer sound rim of wood, if not too narrow, can be cut 
into stave bolts and staves with comparatively little waste. Such 
logs can usually be worked much more profitably into staves than 
into lumber. Some hollow logs otherwise sound will yield one-third 
more than the log scale in pail staves, when for lumber there would 
be little if any overrun and only narrow widths could be obtained. 

Logs are generally purchased in 8 to 10 foot lengths, but much 
material is also purchased in lengths of about 3 feet, especially small- 
diameter timber, which is bought of farmers. Hollow logs are 
accepted, but they should have at least a 6-inch rim of sound wood. 
Hollow logs are sometimes taken down to a 4-inch shell, but such 
material often can not be handled at a profit because of the expense 
of the labor to work it up (PI. VIII) . Small logs are profitable because 
there is a large overrun in such logs compared with the yield in 
lumber. Although factories prefer the timber not smaller than 6 
inches in diameter, 5-inch and even some 4-inch sizes are taken if 
of good quality. Some manufacturers prefer to purchase by the 
cord of 128 cubic feet and in 39 and 52-inch lengths. On account of 
the difficulty of getting it cut up, much small material is now shipped 
in 12-foot lenths. Second-growth timber is considered the best 
quality. 

Prices paid for basswood are quite variable, depending on the 
general quality of the timber and the location; they range from 
about $20 to $30 a thousand board feet f. o. b. cars at loading point. 
Freight costs often amount to $5 to $10 a thousand in addition to this. 

Pail manufacturers of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota in 
some instances own extensive timber tracts in the northern parts of 
these States from which they get a large part of their raw material. 
Basswood is becoming scarce even in this region, and manufacturers 
must depend on other species. Aspen is being used to some extent 
in place of basswood, although the supply is limited, sizes are small, 
and the wood is much inclined to be defective, doty, and discolored. 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 35 

The wood of balm of Gilead, a tree which resembles the aspen, is not 
liked because it is shaky and otherwise defective. The white or 
paper birch is sometimes used when supplies are available and is 
said to make a good pail. Second-growth white pine, if not too 
defective, is also fairly satisfactory. 

Factories in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota have difficulty 
in getting sufficient suitable timber, and those which are not located 
conveniently to a supply from the northern parts of these States 
have in some cases been compelled to go out of business or move 
farther north. Even this supply is becoming so scarce that large 
manufacturers realize that they must look to new territory. It is 
probable that a large part of the industry will be transferred in the 
near future to the Pacific coast, where, in some instances, tracts of 
softwood timber have been already acquired for the purpose. 

A large demand exists for pails of the kind just described. As a 
rule, they are not used a second time, on account of the cost of ship- 
ment and because they find a ready sale at retail stores. 

The cheese box is another common woodenware commodity made 
of basswood. Small cheese boxes used for shipping fancy cheeses 
are commonly made of basswood throughout. Veneer is used for 
the sides, and small pieces of thicker stock for the bottoms and covers. 
Basswood is also sometimes used for the heading for large cheese 
boxes; for the sides of these larger boxes a strong tough wood, such 
as elm, is required. In making the small cheese boxes the better 
grade of logs is used for the veneer, and low-grade and small logs 
are sawed into lumber for the bottoms and tops. Such lumber, even 
though defective, yields a large amount of the small, clear pieces 
required. Basswood is easy to manufacture into this product and 
makes a light and attractive box for the purpose. 

A very large number of other articles of woodenware are commonly 
made of basswood. Important among these are kitchen utensils, 
such as bread boards and boards for cutting slaw and other vege- 
tables; also such articles as bowls and candlesticks, which are turned 
on the lathe and to which hand carving may be added. Cloth boards 
on which goods are wound, lap boards, and cutting boards of various 
kinds are commonly of basswood, because it is white, light in weight, 
and not so readily split as many other light woods. Small, clear 
pieces of waste basswood are often worked into such articles as fan 
handles. Wooden novelties of many kinds, often sold as souvenirs, 
are made rf basswood because of its good working qualities. Check- 
ers and dominoes are commonly of this wood, because it shows paint- 
ing to excellent advantage. Basswood is the favorite wood for 
pyrography because of its whiteness, although little is now used in 
this way. Porch shades, snow shovels, and ladders are other articles 
in which basswood is valued because of its light weight. Because it 



36 BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

shows printing and writing well, it is made into barbers' checks, and 
labels attached to hay bales on which the weight is written. 

Since plentiful supplies of comparatively cheap timber are neces- 
sary in the manufacture of different kinds of woodenware, the 
factories are located near the principal supplies of the timber they use. 
Wisconsin consumes by far the largest quantities of basswood for 
these products, and Michigan and Minnesota also use large amounts. 
New York and Ohio are likewise important in the consumption of 
basswood for woodenware articles. Outside of these five States 
the amount of basswood used for these purposes is very small. 

apiarists', poulterers', and dairymen's supplies. 

Because it gives a white, clean appearance and is odorless, basswood 
is the preferred wood for the honey section, which holds the honey- 
comb in the hive, and in which comb honey is retailed to the trade 
(fig. 6). Purchasers are very discriminating concerning the appear- 
ance of the package holding honey. A dark or discolored wood 
gives the impression that the honey is inferior in quality. Only the 
white, clear basswood will serve for the best grade of honey sections. 
A second grade is usually made which is cream-colored. This grade 
must be uniformly colored, however, and the wood must be free from 
defects. Although the best grade of basswood lumber is most suit- 
able for the manufacture of these sections, factories find it more 
economical, on account of the high price of such stock, to purchase 
a lower grade or a mixed grade and to work up brown and otherwise 
discolored stock, which is unsuitable for honey sections, into fences 
and separators which go between the honey sections in the hive 
(fig. 6). These parts can be satisfactorily made of other woods, 
such as pine, when sufficient basswood is not available. It is stated 
that pine is even more suitable, because the basswood is liable to 
mold. Some firms purchase basswood lumber of the grade No. 1 
common white, in which a small percentage of brown wood is ad- 
mitted, and which costs them about $10 a thousand board feet more 
than the regular No. 1 common grade. A combination of No. 2 
common and better grades, called ''log-run," can often be used 
to good advantage by such factories, since a large percentage of clear, 
white stock can often be worked out. Narrow- width and short- 
length lumber can be utilized; and round-edge, i. e., lumber which 
has not been edged, can be worked up advantageously. 

Several machine operations are necessary in making the honey 
section. First, the plain strip is made by resawing inch boards; 
the sides are next trimmed out, which allows the bees to enter when 
the sections are placed face to face; the strips are then notched at 
each end to make a lock-cornered joint; finally, three V-shaped 
scorings are made across each piece where it is later bent at right 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 



37 




Fig. 6.— Apiarists' supplies made of basswood: a, h, c, and rf— tiie different steps in the manufacture of the 
honey section,; c,f, and ^— parts making up the"fences'' or separators that go between the honeysec- 
tion$ in the hive. 



38 BTILLETTN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

angles to form the completed honey section. The strips are shipped 
flat from the factory and should be steamed at the scorings to bend 
satisfactorily. Apparatus is sold to apiarists for this purpose, 
although the strips can be bent without breaking by moistening the 
wood where the scorings have been made. Basswood does not break 
readily when bent in this way, which makes it valuable for this use. 

Manufacturers of honey sections prefer to get their basswood from 
the Lake States. Some is purchased from West Virginia mills, 
but this is not considered so white and clear or so suitable for this use. 
Basswood which is cut in the winter is preferred for the manufacture 
of honey sections, because it is less likely to discolor than if cut in the 
summer. Some firms make a practice of buying it partially seasoned 
in the winter. It is then piled in the open on sticks for 9 months to a 
year, after which it is piled solid for a year under cover. Where this 
practice is followed it is necessary to keep a very large stock of 
lumber on hand. 

Factories making honey sections and other bee-keepers' supplies 
generally find it necessary to manufacture a number of miscellaneous 
articles in order to utilize their small-dimension and defective bass- 
wood. Such articles as small boxes, handles of cheap fans, calendar 
sticks, and washboards are among the most common. Trimmings 
cut from the ends of thin basswood strips are sold for hay-balers' 
labels, on which weights are written. Brown and dark-streaked 
material can be used for these purposes. Basswood is sometimes 
used for the interior of hives and occasionally for the sides, but white 
or western yellow pine is more often used for these parts, and cypress 
for the tops and bottoms, because a more durable wood is desired. 

Manufacturers of apiarists' supplies assert that there is no satis- 
factory substitute for basswood in the manufacture of honey sections. 
Yellow poplar is not so strong at the corners of the honey sections 
where it is bent and, moreover, it not in general so white and clear 
as basswood. The sapwood might serve, however, if it could be 
obtained in large quantities. Cottonwood might be made to serve, 
but it does not machine smoothly. The warping of tupelo, which 
might otherwise be suitable, precludes its use for the purpose. 

Other articles for which basswood is adapted are butter molds, 
because it looks clean and can be easily carved, and parts of churns, 
on accoimt of its light color. Incubators and poultry coops are often 
made partly of basswood, because it is light in weight and easy to 
work. 

New York, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio use the largest quantities 
of basswood for this line of wooden products, because of the bee, 
dairy, and poultry industries in those States. 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 39 



FURNITURE. 



Basswood is an important furniture wood because it glues well 
and takes and holds screws and nails very satisfactorily. It is well 
liked for such parts as drawer sides and bottoms, mirror backing, 
and shelves, because it does not warp to any great extent. Bass- 
wood is often used for the inside and hidden parts of expensive 
furniture. It is not generally used for outside work in furniture, 
because it lacks the strength of other woods, such as oak and red 
gum, and does not have an attractive grain or figure for finishing in 
the natural state. It is, however, used in enamel work, for which 
purpose it is well adapted, because it has a uniform texture, takes 
paint well, and, since it does not shrink and swell to any great extent, 
it is not inclined to crack the enamel coating as many other woods do. 

Basswood serves well for cores of panels finished in expensive 
veneers. It is especially well suited for producing curved surfaces 
in furniture, because it can be readily bent into various forms by 
steaming, holds its shape after it is dry, and glues well. It is in 
demand, therefore, as a core wood for curved and irregular surfaces 
which are to be covered with figured veneer. Basswood is valuable 
also as core stock for large panels, because it can be obtained in 
large, clear pieces. Experiments on panels show that there is less 
warping when a low-density core wood, such as basswood, is used 
than with a high-density core wood. The low-density core wood 
has the additional advantage of making a light-weight panel. Bass- 
wood, also, does not split so readily as many other light-weight woods 
and holds the veneer well. In the gluing process basswood absorbs 
the glue very readily; therefore, a liberal amount of glue should be 
used in order to avoid a starved joint. 

The following States use basswood for furniture in largest amounts: 
Illinois, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, 
Ohio, and Indiana. 

TRUNKS AND VALISES. 

Basswood is an ideal wood for trunks because it is light in weight, 
does not split readily, holds nails well, is easily worked, keeps its shape 
well, and is available in wide, clear pieces. Some trunk manufacturers 
use basswood exclusively for the trunk box and also for the lid and 
trays. The trunk box may be made up of a single thickness of bass- 
wood or the sides may be 3 or 5 ply. Trunks made of pljnvood are 
more serviceable, because the plywood panels will stand shock better 
without splitting or breaking than the solid panels. The plywood is 
made of three or five thicknesses of basswood veneer one-sixteenth 
to one-twelfth of an inch thick, glued together with the direction of 
the grain in each sheet at right angles to that in adjacent sheets. 
Each ply may be made up of several strips of veneer, and small 



40 BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

defects are permitted if they do not interfere with the soundness of 
the stock. Discolored material can therefore be used. The trunk- 
box is nailed together and the nails are placed very closely. Even 
the thin pieces making up the trunk tray are usually fastened to- 
gether by nailing. The trunk box is covered by an outer and an 
inner layer of fiber glued to the plywood, which protects the wood 
and adds to the appearance of the trunk. When the trunk is made 
of one thickness of wood throughout, boards, generally three-eighths 
or seven-sixteenths of an inch in thickness, are matched by means of 
tongue-and-groove along the sides. 

Sample cases are often constructed like trunks and made of bass- 
wood. White pine is said to make a fairly satisfactorily trunk box, 
but splits more readily than basswood. It is said that yellow poplar 
makes too heavy a box, and cottonwood is hard to work and does 
not hold its shape well. Factories making the solid boxes usually 
purchase inch lumber and resaw it. They may buy low-grade lumber 
and cut out the suitable stock, or, they may find it advantageous to 
purchase log run and utilize the various grades. Makers of plywood 
trunks generally buy the sheets of plywood already glued up. Veneer 
plants making plywood for trunks use fairly clear logs 10 inches and 
up in diameter, which they cut into lengths of about 4 feet. The 
cores left after cutting the veneer can be profitably used by such 
factories for making high-grade cabinet panels, since basswood is an 
excellent core wood for such panels. 

Wisconsin and Ohio use the largest quantities of basswood in the 
manufacture of trunks, followed by New York, Illinois, Michigan, 
and Pennsylvania. 

It is not likely that basswood will be replaced by other woods in 
trunk manufacture until its extreme scarcity makes this necessary. 
Large quantities of southern pine, usually the softer grades, are used 
for low-priced trunks. To some extent, trunk makers are using red- 
gum plywood, which they are able to make thinner than the bass- 
wood because of its greater strength. By making it into plywood 
the natural warping of red gum is very largely overcome. 

PICTURE FRAMES AND MOLDING. 

Basswood was formerly the principal wood used for picture frames 
and molding, because it works well with tools, finishes well, holds its 
shape, and is well adapted for the highly decorative composition and 
gilt work which was very much in demand until recently. However, 
the demand is now very largely for embossed work. In embossing, 
the tool, which is usually a heavy metal disc, is forced into the wood 
while hot and leaves an imprint. Basswood exhibits a certain amount 
of sponginess under this treatment, the wood rising where the im- 
print is made, so that it is not satisfactory for the purpose. For this 



UTiLlZATlOlir OF BASSWOOD. 41 

reason much smaller quantities are now used in this industry than 
formerly. Red gum has been very largely substituted in embossed 
work. Basswood is still used to a large extent for plain moldings 
which are to be painted, and also as core material for moldings finished 
in highly figured veneers. It is said to be the most satisfactory core 
material available for this use. It is also well liked for carved mold- 
ings, because it cuts so well with tools. Illinois and New York were 
the principal States reporting basswood for these products. 

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. 

Basswood enters very largely into the manufacture of musical in- 
struments, chiefly pianos and organs. It is used mainly for interior 
small parts, for which its light weight and ability to hold its shape 
make it suitable. It is also much used for piano and organ cases. 
For organ bellows, wind chests, and swell boxes it is especially suited, 
because of its lightness, good working qualities, and freedom from 
warping. Basswood is the choice wood for piano and organ keys 
because of its whiteness, light weight, and good staying qualities. 
Only the highest grade of the wood, however, serves as piano-key 
stock. This is selected white wood which is seasoned with much care, 
since a small amount of warping in the key may interfere with its 
action. 

Basswood also goes into the construction of phonograph cabinets, 
in the form of cores for the panels finished in mahogany, walnut, and 
oak veneers. Stock of small dimensions can often be utilized in this 
way. 

Basswood is employed for necks of mandolins, for violin cases, and 
for other such uses. The principal States using basswood for musical 
instruments are New York, Illinois, Connecticut, Michigan, and Ohio. 

The highest average cost reported for basswood by the industry 
indicates that a high grade of stock was purchased for this class of 
uses. This average cost was more than double that reported by the 
box-and-crate and woodenware industries for basswood, and nearly 
50 per cent more than that reported for furniture. 



Basswood is highly valued by toy makers because of its good 
working, staying, and finishing qualities, on account of which it is the 
principal wood used in the United States, both for toys made entu'ely 
of wood and for the wooden parts of metal toys. It is not only used 
in greater quantities, but enters into the manufacture of more kinds 
of toys than any other species. Among the most common toys are 
wagons and buggies, in which basswood is used for the bottoms. 
Other toys in the same class which use much basswood are sleds, 
automobiles, and wheelbarrows. Hobbyhorses and small toy ani- 



42 BUIXETIN loot, U. S. DEPAKTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

mals of various kinds are other products made largely of this wood, 
as well as toy boats. Toy pianos and doll houses are usually of bass- 
wood, which is also the favorite wood for toy cannon and popgun 
stocks because it is easily bored and turned to shape. It is the wood 
used in making the wooden doll of recent introduction and valued 
for its indestructibility. The head, which is also of solid wood, is 
carved to form the face and enameled in lifelike colors. Basswood 
is very largely employed in the making of toy blocks of various kinds, 
because it is so easily worked and takes printing well. 

Toy manufacturers generally purchase a combination of No. 2 
common and better grades from which they cut the pieces of different 
sizes and quality for their needs. They use much thin lumber, such 
as for the box boards of toy wagons and wheelbarrows, and they are 
able to utilize the material very closely, even though considerable clear 
stock is required, because of the very large variety of products manu- 
factured. Some firms use the waste from the manufacture of other 
articles, such as piano and organ keys. However, since toys must 
ordinarily be produced at low cost, the general run of small and odd- 
sized pieces of waste from other factories can not usually be employed 
at a profit, because of the added expense of labor in working it up. 
Toys are generally manufactured in large quantities by machinery, 
and the production would be seriously reduced by the use of much 
small material of various shapes. Some firms using basswood for 
other articles utilize their own waste by converting it into such toys 
as can be made to advantage from the sizes they have available, and 
this can often be done at a considerable profit. 

Yellow poplar is also used in toy manufacture, but where it is to be 
left unpainted the color is considered not so attractive as that of bass- 
wood. White pine is also put to the same use but it is not so desirable, 
because it splits more readily. On account of its limited supply and 
the advancing prices on basswood and its most common substitutes, 
toy manufacturers are constantly seeking a suitable new substitute. 
Cottonwood is not satisfactory, it is stated, because it does not 
machine to a sufficiently smooth surface. By careful seasoning it is 
possible that tupelo and the sapwood of the red gum can be utilized, 
at least for those toys which are intended for indoor use. The prin- 
cipal States making products of this class from basswood are New 
York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin. 

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. 

Basswood enters into the construction of a large variety of agri- 
cultural implements. It is used mainly for inside work, chutes, 
drawers, partitions, and boxes of various kinds, and in general 
where a high degree of strength is not required. It is a favorite 
wood for use in grain separators, seeders, and fanning mills, for 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 43 

parts of feed mills, and in containers or conveyors of shellers, graders, 
and planters. It also serves in a small way for parts of such farm 
implements as cultivators and hayrakes. 

Wisconsin and New York use the largest quantities of basswood 
for these products. Where basswood is not so readily available, 
other woods are used for the same purposes. In fact, yellow poplar 
is used in much larger quantities in this industry, is fully as suitable, 
and has the advantage of being available in larger quantities and 
greater widths. Southern yellow pine and white pine are also 
much used for these purposes. 



Basswood is an important wood in the manufacture of store, 
office, and bank fixtures and is also used for church and school 
furniture, such as pews, altars, and desks. It goes mainly into the 
interior and hidden parts, where it is used principally in the form 
of small pieces. It is valued for such parts because it is a good 
wood to work with tools and takes nails and screws well. It also 
serves for the cores of high-grade panels covered with veneer of 
figured wood. In this class of products, as in furniture, much of it 
is used for drawers, linings, and partitions, and it is well adapted 
for cases and racks for holding and displaying goods in stores as 
well as for medicine cabinets and cupboards in dwellings. 

Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois use the largest 
quantities of basswood for fixtures, because of its availability in 
those States. Prices paid for basswood for fijctures average about 
the same as for furniture, showing that about the same grade of 
stock is used for the two purposes. 

VEHICLES. 

The chief use of basswood in vehicle construction is for the bodies 
and panels of carriages, wagons, and automobiles. Much less wood 
than formerly is now used for vehicle body panels, because the wooden 
panel of the automobile body is now practically superseded by 
steel. Basswood is often used for wagon-top slats, and it also fre- 
quently goes into the construction of sleigh bodies, for which it is 
well adapted. Baby-carriage bodies and wheelbarrow sides are 
other vehicle parts for which the wood is suitable. It is used also 
for storage batteries, on account of its ability to hold its shape. 

Wisconsin and New York are the principal States in the con- 
sumption of basswood for these purposes. 



A satisfactory match wood must light easily and burn with a good 
flame, and the stub should not retain the live coal long after the 
blaze has expired. It should be straight-grained and easily worked. 



44 BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 

and should also hold the dipping material well. The wood should 
be practically free from defects and preferably light in color. White 
pine is the principal match wood in the United States, from which 
the romid match is made by cutting from clear blocks of wood. 
Basswood is second in importance and is used in much smaller 
quantities for the production of the square or veneer match. 

For the manufacture of the veneer match raw material is received 
at the factory in log form. The logs are boiled and cut into veneer 
the thickness of the match on a rotary veneer lathe. The veneer is 
then cut into strips in width corresponding to the length of the 
match stick. The sticks are then split from the veneer, and after 
they are thoroughly dried the ignition end is paraffined to make 
them bm-n better and is headed with the ignition material. 

Aspen is the wood which is used almost exclusively in Europe for 
manufacturing veneer matches, and basswood has similar pro- 
perties. Basswood matches are not so attractive looking as those 
made from white pine, because the basswood does not split so 
straight, and the match sticks are often very imperfect (fig. 7). 
Otherwise basswood is a very satisfactory wood for matches. Match 
factories use only No. 1 or veneer logs 8 inches and over in diameter. 
They are generally purchased in lengths which are multiples of 22 
inches if less than a foot in diameter. Larger logs are usually any 
length from 3^ to 14 feet. The cost of such logs at the factory 
ranges from about S50 to $55 a thousand board feet. The timber 
used for this purpose is obtained mostly from farmers' woodlots, 
since the larger and more desirable timber goes mainly into the 
manufacture of lumber and high-grade veneer. This small sized 
timber is frequently defective, with many small knots, and there is 
much waste in converting it into the clear veneer stock. The logs 
are utilized very closely and can be cut down to a core as small as 
2^ inches. 

Farm woodlots in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin furnish a 
large part of the basswood used for matches. 

REFRIGERATORS AND KITCHEN CABINETS. 

The class of products included under refrigerators and kitchen 
cabinets might be termed kitchen furniture, since it includes refrig- 
erators, kitchen cabinets, kitchen tables, and, in fact, all kinds of 
furniture made for kitchen and pantry use, except kitchen chairs. 
Basswood is well liked for these articles, because it has a clean ap- 
pearance in the unfinished state and is odorless. It can also be 
painted or varnished advantageously, if desired. It is much used 
for the lining, shelves, drawers, and compartments of kitchen cabi- 
nets and for the tops of kitchen tables. Such parts are usually kept 
clean by scrubbing with soap and water, and basswood keeps its 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOB., 



45 





Fig. 7.— At top, basswood matches made by veneer process; at bottom, standard white pine matches. 



46 BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGKICULTUBE. 

shape when treated in this way. The No. 1 common grade or log 
run is generally used for the manufacture of such articles from which 
clear stock is cut for exterior parts, and lower-grade stock is utilized 
for the interior woodwork. 

Indiana and Michigan use the largest quantities of basswood for 
these purposes. 

CAR CONSTRUCTION. 

Basswood is used in a small way in the construction of locomotives 
and freight cars in places where much strength is not required. For 
passenger cars, both steam and electric, it serves for exterior and in- 
terior finish, including panel work. It is valued highly for cores finished 
in expensive veneers, such as are seen in Pullman and private cars. 

The use of basswood in this industry was reported, generally in 
rather small amounts, by a large number of States. 

LAUNDRY APPLIANCES. 

Basswood is the favorite wood for the manufacture of a large num- 
ber of articles grouped under this head, because of its whiteness and 
light weight. For ironing boards it is the preferred wood, on ac- 
count of its good appearance unfinished, and because it works so 
easily to a smooth surface and does not warp or split readily in use. 
Besides the regular-sized ironing boards, small skirt and sleeve 
boards are also made of this wood. Adjustable curtain stretchers 
used in laundering lace and other thin-fabric window curtains are 
preferably of basswood. The clothes rack which folds together like 
a screen and is used in drying clothes is commonly made of this wood. 
Basswood is much used for the front panel and top crosspiece of 
washboards, because of the white, clean appearance of the wood. 
Washboards are generally purchased on the basis of their good ap- 
pearance, and one with a white, clean-looking panel will sell more 
readily than a less attractive one. Moreover, a printed advertise- 
ment is usually put on the panel by the manufacturer, and basswood 
shows such printing exceedingly well. Other laundry appliances 
are frequently stenciled with the name of the firm, and for this 
reason basswood is the favorite wood. Clothespins of the kind 
composed of two wooden strips held together by a wire spring and 
called ''clip pins" are sometimes made of this wood. Basswood 
also serves for parts of washing machines where good strength and 
wearing qualities are not requisites. 

Manufacturers using mainly the clear, white wood have much 
difficulty in disposing of their discolored and low-grade stock. 
Some firms covert this stock into small articles, such as round bot- 
toms of fancy baskets; others sell such material to box factories. 
Manufacturers generally find it most advantageous to buy log-run 
lumber and work out of it the stock they need, rather than to pay 



UTILIZATIOlSr OF BASSWOOD. 47 

the price for very high-grade lumber. Some firms using large quan- 
tities of basswood for other purposes find it advantageous to utilize 
small clear pieces in the manufacture of small laundry articles, such 
as washboards. Basswood has been so high-priced and difficult to 
obtain in recent years that many manufacturers of laundry appli- 
ances have been compelled to substitute yellow poplar, although its 
color is not generally liked so well, and much of it is more difficult 
to work. 

The largest quantities of basswood used for these products have 
been reported from Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania. 

TOBACCO BOXES. 

Because of the difficulty of obtaining Spanish cedar, which is the 
standard cigar-box wood, a large number of substitutes are em- 
ployed. A satisfactory wood for cigar boxes should work well into 
thin lumber or veneer, hold its shape, nail without splitting, and 
have an attractive appearance. Basswood, stained to resemble 
Spanish cedar, is probably the best substitute. The imitation is 
made even more complete hj passing the thin lumber between rollers 
which stamp it to give the appearance of the genuine cedar, and the 
cedar odor may be imparted by washing it with extract of cedar 
shavings and sawdust. Only the highest grade of lumber is used 
for this purpose. It is carefully piled on sticks and kiln-dried just 
before it is resawed into thin cigar-box lumber, which is usually 
about three-sixteenths of an inch in thickness. Basswood is also 
used as core, on which thin veneer of Spanish cedar is glued, and is 
well adapted for this purpose. 

Some basswood goes into the construction of tobacco boxes of 
other kinds, because it does not impart stain or odor to substances 
in contact with it. It is also used for humidors, which prevent 
cigars from drying out. Yellow poplar is also used for these pur- 
poses. Tupelo and red gum are likewise employed for these uses; 
but they are less desirable, because of the darker color of the woods 
and their tendency to warp. 

The greater part of the basswood reported for the manufacture 
of cigar boxes was used in Wisconsin factories. 

BOOT AND SHOE FINDINGS. 

The principal use of basswood in boot and shoe findings is for shoe 
forms or fillers. These are similar in shape to the last, which is of 
some hardwood, usually hard maple. Shoe forms are used to main- 
tain the natural shape of the shoe in samples displayed in show 
cases and when being handled by traveling salesmen. They are 
made to fit the shoe perfectly and give an effect similar to that 
produced when the shoe is on the foot. Fillers should be light in 



48 BULJLETIN 100*7, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 

weight to save cost in transportation in salesmen's trunks. These 
forms are tooled to final shape from the rough-turned blocks; and 
to reduce weight to the minimum they are often hollowed. Bass- 
wood is considered the most practical wood for this use, because it 
is light in weight, easily worked, does not split readil}^, and holds 
its shape well. The wood is also used for lasts for rubber boots in 
some instances. The increasing high cost and scarcity of basswood 
have made a demand for a lower-priced substitute, but none seems 
available which is as suitable. 

The wooden soles of clog shoes are often of basswood. Such shoes 
have leather tops and are for use in wet and cold places, such as 
tanneries, creameries, mines, dye works, fish canneries, slaughter 
houses, paper mills, and in foundries and metal works. They are 
also used where a durable, low-priced shoe is desired. Yellow poplar 
is often used in place of basswood for wooden soles. A high quality 
of wood is required for these products, and the percentage of waste 
is high, especially in the use of thick stock or billets for the manu- 
facture of the shoe forms. 

New York, Massachusetts, Maine, and Michigan reported the 
largest quantities of basswood used for these purposes. 

CASKETS AND COFFINS. 

Basswood is used in several ways in the construction of caskets 
and coffins. It is made into cheap caskets and coffins, which are 
often stained to imitate more expensive woods; and it is well adapted 
for use in this way, because it is easily worked and finishes well. 
It is also frequently used for the cloth-covered casket. Its mam 
use in the industry, however, is as a core wood for panels of expensive 
caskets covered with veneer and for moldings and carved work on 
such caskets. The outer case, usually called ''rough box," which 
also often serves as a shipping case for the casket, is sometimes 
made of basswood because of the good appearance of the wood. 

A large number of States reported comparatively small quantities 
of basswood used for this purpose. 

PROFESSIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS. 

Basswood is well liked for many professional and scientific instru- 
ments because of its good color, ease of working, and light weight. 
It is a favorite wood for yardsticks and rulers because it shows 
printing to advantage and does not warp. Manufacturers of adver- 
tising novelties use large quantities of basswood, particularly for 
yardsticks on which advertising matter is printed. Drawing boards 
and the tops of draughtsmen's tables have certain requirements 
which must be met if they are to be satisfactory. The wood must 
be soft so that the thumb tack used to fasten the sheet in place 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 49 

can be driven in with the pressure of the thumb and can be easily 
withdrawn; at the same time the wood should hold the thumb tack 
in place. Such boards are often made of several plies to obviate 
any tendency of the wood to warp or split. Basswood is a preferred 
wood, and yellow poplar is also satisfactory; white pine, sugar pine, 
and redwood are much used for this purpose. Because of its suit- 
ability for printing, alphabet blocks of basswood are made in large 
quantities. It is also employed in the manufacture of cameras, the 
wooden box and other small wooden parts of such instruments 
consuming large quantities m the aggregate. Boxes for holding 
various professional and scientific instruments, including carpenters' 
tool chests and optical instrument cases, are often of basswood. 
Pasteboards for paper hangers are also made of this wood. It is 
used for cigarmakers' molds, because it is readily carved, and as 
labels for potted plants on which writing or printing must show well. 
Pencils and penholders of basswood are stained to give an attractive 
appearance. It also serves for spirit levels and the backs of ther- 
mometers. 

More than two-thirds of the entire amount of basswood reported 
to the Forest Service by manufacturers for these uses was consumed 
in New York State. 

HANDLES. 

Basswood is not adapted for handles of such tools as axes, sledges, 
forks, and hoes, because it lacks the necessary strength. It is used 
in considerable quantities, however, for broom and mop handles, 
and for the long handles of window brushes. For short handles of 
trowels, soldering irons, and files it serves very satisfactorily, and 
also for the handles of engravers' tools. Harder woods, such as 
beech, birch, and maple, are generally more satisfactory than bass- 
wood for such handles, however, because they are stronger, wear 
better, and do not split so readily. 

Ohio and Michigan reported the largest quantities of basswood for 
handle manufacture. 

SHUTTLES, SPOOLS, AND BOBBINS. 

Basswood is the sixth wood in importance in the shuttle, spool, and 
bobbin industry, birch and maple being most largely used. Bass- 
wood is made principally into the one-piece spool for holding thread 
or tape, and for the ends or disks of three-piece spools, which are 
much larger and are used in textile mills. Paper or white birch is 
most commonly used for these spools; but basswood is satisfactory, 
because it turns well and makes a spool that looks well. 

The bulk of the basswood used in this industry was reported by 
Massachusetts and New Hampshire. 



50 BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Although basswood ranks about tenth in amount among the 
woods used for chau*s, it is not considered an important chair wood 
because such material should in general be able to stand loads and 
shocks. Its use is mainly for seats, seat frames, and backs of cheap 
chairs, where it serves in the form of plywood, and in high-priced 
work, such as cores for panels. 



Basswood is second in importance among woods used for clocks, 
oak being consumed in larger quantities. Basswood is much used 
for hidden work and the backs of cases; it is a favorite wood for cases 
finished in enamel work, and is popular in the imitation of foreign 
woods, marble, and other materials. Basswood also serves as core 
wood for figured veneer work, which is much used in clock cases. 

Connecticut reported the bulk of the basswood used for clock 
manufacture. 

MACHINE CONSTRUCTION. 

The amount of basswood used in the construction of machines is 
surprisingly large, considering that a high degree of strength is 
generally required for this purpose. Basswood finds its use in this 
industry mainly for boxes and spouts, such as are used in flour-mill 
machinery, and for woodwork of looms and parts for which a light, 
soft wood is desirable. 

SHIP AND BOAT BUILDING. 

Basswood finds a useful place in ship and boat building mainly as a 
finish material. It is well adapted for moldings and other wood- 
work for the interior of cabins, especially where finished in enamel. 
It is put to a large number of other uses. 

BRUSHES. 

Basswood stands fourth in importance among woods used in brush 
making. Beech, birch, and hard maple are each used in much larger 
quantities. These woods are more desirable for this use because of 
their greater hardness and resistance to splitting. Basswood generally 
goes into the cheaper, rough, unpolished handles, while the other 
woods mentioned are used in the manufacture of higher-grade 
articles. 

SHADE AND MAP ROLLERS. 

The chief use of basswood in the shade and map roller industry is 
for curtain poles. It serves well for this use, because it is so easily 
worked and because the ease and permanence with which it takes 
paint and stain allow it to be finished to imitate expensive hardwoods, 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 51 

such as walnut, mahogany, and oak. Rug and drugget poles, which 
are lower-grade products, are also made of basswood. This wood is 
not adapted for heavy poles, for which maple, birch, oak, and ash 
are more serviceable. Some basswood is used for window-shade 
rollers, but white pine is the usual "vv^ood employed for this purpose. 
Awning poles are often of basswood, because a light-weight wood is 
desirable. 

PULLEYS AND CONVEYORS. 

Basswood is used for the rims of wooden pulleys, because it is light 
in weight, has good gluing qualities, holds nails well without splitting, 
and does not shrink, swell, or warp greatly. Wooden pulleys are 
preferable in many cases to those of metal, because the lighter weight 
renders them less likely to break through centrifugal force. These 
rims are generally built up of a large number of pieces, which are 
carefully fitted and glued together. Since basswood will not stand 
a large amount of wear, harder and therefore heavier woods are used 
in larger quantities. 

Basswood is employed in the construction of buffer wheels, such as 
are used for polishing metal and glass; and it is preferred for this 
use, because it is fine-grained and holds the polishing materials well. 
These wheels are usually made up solid of about six pie-shaped pieces, 
which are dove-tailed and glued together, making a strong, light- 
weight disk. 

PRINTING MATERIAL. 

The use of basswood in the printing industry is mainly for parts of 
printers' type cabinets and as base blocks for rubber-stamp pads. 
It commonly serves as bottoms of type boxes or trays, often in the 
form of veneer; for the latter use a low-grade material is employed. 

SPORTING AND ATHLETIC GOODS. 

Basswood serves to advantage for the inside framework of billiard 
and pool tables, because it holds its shape well. It is also employed 
to a considerable extent for fishing-line blocks on which the line is 
wound, because of its light weight. 

SEWING MACHINES. 

For sewing-machine cabinets, basswood is used to advantage as a 
corewood for expensive veneers, and as sides and bottoms of drawers 
and compartments, where its white, cleanly appearance makes it a 
preferred wood. 

ELECTRICAL MACHINERY AND APPARATUS. 

In the making of electrical apparatus basswood is used especially 
for spools for holding small-gauge wire, for base blocks, and for parts 
of such electrical apparatus as telephone cabinets. 



52 BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

plumbers' woodwork. 

Basswood is adapted for toilet and medicine cases or cabinets, 
towel cabinets and racks, and other cabinet work for toilets, which 
may be finished in basswood and painted in imitation of more expen- 
sive woods, or enameled to match the tile work of the room. Such 
cabinets are more often finished in a more decorative wood, such as 
white oak or birch. 

DOWELS. 

For wooden pins used to hold wooden parts together, mainly in 
cabinet work, basswood is a preferred wood, because of its good 
turning qualities. Where the parts are subjected to much strain, 
stronger woods, such as birch, beech, and maple, are required; and 
these are the principal species used. 

PATTERNS AND FLASKS. 

Basswood is a very suitable wood for patterns, because it is so 
easily worked, keeps its shape, and does not split easily. It is used 
mainly in shop patterns, and it is well liked for templets in ship- 
building. High-grade, fairly clear stock is required for this use. 

SIGNS AND SUPPLIES. 

Since basswood shows painting and printing to such advantage, 
it is well adapted for small signboards. White pine, however, is the 
favorite wood for this purpose and is more durable in situations 
exposed to the weather. Basswood signs should be kept painted in 
order to give good service. 

SADDLES AND HARNESS. 

Basswood is valuable for saddletrees, because it is light in weight, 
strong for its weight, and is easily modeled into various forms. It is 
adapted for light-weight saddles; for those requiring a high degree 
of strength, such as the pack saddle and the cowboy saddle, heavier 
and tougher woods are required. Clear, high-grade, thick stock is 
utilized for this purpose. Basswood is also used for stirrups, in which 
it serves for the head or neck blocks. 

MARKETS. 

On account of its growing scarcity and the high value placed upon 
it for special uses, there is usually little difficulty in finding a ready 
market for basswood timber. It is commonly sold in the form of 
lumber, log, and bolt. Where the timber stands are far distant from 
the factory, basswood is generally manufactured into lumber along 
with other hardwood species with which it grows in mixture. Cooper- 
age and woodenware plants, however, in some instances buy tracts 
of timber from which they log the basswood and other species. In 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 53 

sections of the country where factories using basswood are located, 
logs, bolts, and lumber generally find a ready sale. As a rule, it is 
preferable for the small timber owner to market basswood timber 
in the log rather than to saw it into boards and planks, because the 
factories using logs can utilize the timber in this form to much 
greater advantage (PI. VI). 

Basswood logs are marketed to best advantage in the winter time, 
because the timber is less apt to become stained and decayed in cold 
weather through the action of molds and wood-destroying fungi. 
In warm weather logs should not be allowed to lie in contact with the 
ground for more than a few days, but should rest on skids, and should 
not remain in a damp situation for an extended length of time, 
because basswood deteriorates very rapidly under such circumstances. 
Farmers usually find it most convenient to cut their timber and haul 
it to the railroad during the winter months. In disposing of their 
timber, owners of small tracts will find it to their advantage to get 
in touch with their State forestry departments in order to obtain 
names of possible purchasers, prices, and specifications. 

Since many firms quote prices at the mill or factory, the following 
weights of basswood in various forms are given, from which freight 
costs may be figured: 

Rough lumber, 1 inch thick, 1,000 board feet: Pounds. 

Green M, 200 

Dry 3 2, 500 

Logs, 1,000 board feet, log scale, Doyle Rule: 

Diameter inside butt at small end, 6 inches — 

Green 43, 800 

Dry 27, 800 

Diameter inside butt at small end, 12 inches — 

Green 9, 400 

Dry 6, 000 

Diameter inside butt at small end, 18 inches — 

Green 6, 600 

Dry 4, 200 

Diameter inside butt at small end, 24 inches — 

Green 5, 600 

Dry 3, 500 

Bolts, butts, etc., 1 cord of 128 * cubic feet: 

Green 3, 700 

Dry 2, 300 

LUMBER. 

Basswood lumber, if well manufactured, is readily salable to a 
large number of industries. High-grade stock is in demand by 
manufacturers of musical instruments, apiarists' supplies, and cigar 
boxes. For piano keys, thick stock is required which should be white 

3 OflBcial standard weights of the National Hardwood Lumber Association. 
* Figured on the basis of 90 cubic feet of solid wood content. 



54 BUULETTISr W(yi, V. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICTILTUEE. 

in color. The white stock is also demanded for bee-keepers' supplies, 
for which the No. 1 common grade is often purchased. Firsts and 
seconds is the usual grade for the manufacture of cigar boxes. The 
combined grade of No. 2 common and better grades is probably most 
commonly used, especially by factories making toys, trunks, kitchen 
cabinets, and dairymen's and apiarists' supplies. For planing-mill 
products, sash, doors, blinds, and general millwork, a good grade of 
lumber is employed. For boxes and crates, lower grades are employed 
as a rule, usually Nos. 2 and 3 common. No. 1 common is also some- 
times used. 

Furniture and trunk factories use basswood very largely in the 
form of built-up stock, which is generally the product of the veneer 
mill. 

LOGS. 

The higher-grade logs are purchased by mills cutting veneer for 
various products. Factories making panels for trunks, furniture, 
and cabinets of various kinds require logs of good quality which must 
be reasonably clear, straight, and round, so that they mil cut to 
advantage into rotary veneer (PI. VI). These factories Mall take 
hollow logs if the log is otherwise of good quality. The hollow por- 
tion of such logs must, of course, not be too large and there must be a 
thick rim of sapwood around it (PI. VIII) . The minimum diameter of 
logs purchased by these veneer plants is usually 10 inches. For the 
No. 1 or veneer log grade about $35 to $40 is the usual price paid at 
the factory. 

Some of the veneer plants, including those manufacturing lower- 
grade products, such as cheese boxes, also have a sawmill equipment 
and convert lower-grade logs into lumber, which they use in the 
manufacture of their products. They buy woods-run logs, which 
bring about $20 to $30 a thousand board feet f . o. b. cars. The price 
at the factory is generally $5 to $8 a thousand more. Basket factories 
generally pay somewhat less. In some instances they purchase sizes 
down to 6 inches in diameter at a comparatively low cost. Match 
factories using basswood require logs of high quality for veneering. 
They generally use No. 1, or veneer, grade, which must be free 
from black heart-rot and reasonably free from knots. Sizes down to 
8 inches in diameter and 22 inches in length are taken. The specifi- 
cations usually call for 8 to 12 inch diameter material in lengths 
which are multiples of 22 inches up to 15 feet. Logs over 12 inches 
in diameter are preferred in lengths between 3^ and 14 feet. No. 1 
logs cost match factories about $50 to $55 a thousand board feet, 
freight included. No. 2 logs suitable for this purpose bring $5 to $10 
a thousand less. Match factories must frequently get their logs from 
a considerable distance, and the resultant high freight costs often 
amount to from $10 to $15 a, thpus^ind bo9-rd feet. 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 55 

Large cooperage and woodenware factories get their timber very 
largely from their own tracts. Small firms must usually depend on 
purchase from various sources. Cooperage factories use logs 7 inches 
and over in diameter at the small end for barrel heading. Factories 
making pails and tubs use the largest quantities of basswood. They 
generally prefer woods-run logs, for which they pay about $30 a 
thousand board feet on board cars at loading point, taking sizes 
down to 6 inches in diameter at the small end (PI. VII) . Lengths of 8 
to 10 feet are preferred, but shorter lengths of about 3 feet are often 
purchased. Some firms buy only No. 2 logs, which are small and 
largely defective, often with hollow centers, and pay about $15 a 
thousand board feet loaded on cars. Logs 6 inches and up in diam- 
eter are taken if not too defective, and even some 4-inch sizes are 
accepted if they are of good quality. Hollow logs with a 4-inch shell 
are taken by some factories if they are otherwise sound. Second- 
growth, clear, white basswood is preferred by these factories because 
it makes a much more attractive pail. Last-block manufacturers 
purchase basswood logs as small as 12 inches in diameter at the small 
end. Factories making ladders sometimes buy basswood in the log 
also. 

Box factories in many instances buy basswood in the log. The 
logs are also frequently used for the manufacture of vegetable crates. 

BOLTS. 

Basswood in bolt form is used by excelsior and pulpwood plants. 
Excelsior wood should be of good quality, sound, reasonably straight, 
and free from knots. Lengths of 36, 37, 54, and 55 inches are the 
most common ones specified, and a minimum diameter of 4 inches 
is accepted. Diameters of 7 to 12 inches are required to be split in 
half, over 12 inches split into four pieces, and very large sizes split 
in proportion. Some firms require that the large bolts be split to 
the heart into pieces 6 to 8 inches wide on the bark side. Excelsior 
wood is usually purchased green and unpeeled or dry and peeled. 
Some factories accept peeled stock in the green or partially air- 
seasoned condition. Usual prices paid for 36 and 37 inch lengths 
are $3 to $4 a cord with bark, and $4 to $5 peeled; for 54 and 55 
inch lengths the prices are proportionately greater. The cord for all 
lengths given is 4 feet high and 8 feet long. These prices are for wood 
on board cars at loading point. The price at the factory is usually 50 to 
75 cents a cord more for 37-inch wood. Excelsior wood should not be 
allowed to dry with the bark on, because it can be barked satisfactorily 
only when the wood is green. Wood which has thoroughly air sea- 
soned is most acceptable ; ordinarily it should not stand more than two 
years, however, as it may become brittle and is likely to be attacked 
by decay, which impairs its value. If it is to stand in piles for any 



56 BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

length of time, it should rest on poles or sticks to keep it off the 
ground. A space of about 2 feet should be left between piles to 
allow it to dry properly. Kiln-dried wood, if subjected to too high 
temperatures, often exhibits a brittleness when cut into excelsior, 
which makes it less desirable than the air dried. It is often very 
profitable for the small timber owner to convert his basswood trees 
into excelsior wood rather than to market them in other forms, 
because the small-diameter material and limbs can be more closely 
utilized. 

Basswood is also valuable as pulpwood, for which use it is pur- 
chased at the same price as poplar. It is used for pulp mainly in 
the southern Appalachians. Specifications call for 5-foot lengths, 
with a minimum diameter of 4 inches. Bolts 4 to 7 inches in diameter 
are not to be split, more than 7 and up to 10 inches in diameter to be 
split once, more than 10 and up to 14 inches quartered, and above 
14 inches to be split in proportion. Basswood pulpwood usually 
brings about one dollar more per cord than beech, birch, and maple 
pulpwood. 

Woodenware factories, particularly those making pails and tubs, 
frequently buy bolts with a minimum diameter of 4 inches to 6 inches. 
Lengths are usually 40 and 52 inches. In some cases longer lengths 
are accepted. The price paid on cars at loading point ranges from 
about $6.50 to $8 per cord and the freight amounts to $1 to $2 a cord 
more. Second-growth timber is preferred. Box factories in some 
instances buy basswood bolts for conversion into crating. They 
take diameters down to about 6 inches, and 52-inch lengths are 
usually preferred. 

Where the timber runs small in size, and especially on cut-over 
tracts, where there is much young, rapid-growth stock, the bolt is 
the practicable form for marketing. 

SUMMARY. 

Basswood is an important commercial timber of the northeastern 
part of the United States. Since it grows in mixture with other 
hardwood species and does not form dense stands, it has never been 
a very plentiful timber. In regions where it was formerly compara- 
tively abundant, particularly in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, 
various industries have greatly reduced the supplies available, so 
that it is now scarce in these States. The Great Lakes and south- 
ern Appalachian regions are now the main sources of the timber. 
Wisconsin and Michigan have furnished the largest quantities for 
the last 20 years. During the last 12 years the quantities used have 
diminished greatly; the amount of basswood lumber manufactured 
during this period has been reduced by about 50 per cent. The 
period of maximum lumber production was from 1906 to 1910; in 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 57 

each of the years 1906, 1907, and 1909 the total amount of basswood 
lumber cut was about 400,000,000 board feet. At present the total 
annual use of basswood for all purposes probably does not exceed 
250,000,000 board feet. The total stand of basswood timber is esti- 
mated to be about 9,000,000,000 board feet. 

Basswood is valued mainly for its light color, light weight, and 
good working and seasoning qualities, and because it shows printing 
to advantage. It is used mainly for wooden containers and utensils 
which come in contact with food, including boxes, barrels, pails, 
tubs, and kitchen woodenware. Cabinetwork and inside finish of 
buildings are also important uses. 

Raw material is used in the form of the log, bolt, and lumber. 
Logs are used for the production of veneer^ which is made into ply- 
wood for trunks, furniture, and other cabinetwork. Logs are also 
converted into veneer for cheese boxes. Basswood in the log is used 
for the manufacture of matches by the veneer process. Logs are 
also used in large quantities for making pails, tubs, and slack-barrel 
heading. The bolts are used mainly for conversion into excelsior 
and pulpwood. The principal uses in the form of lumber are for 
boxes, inside finish, apiarists' supplies, laundry appliances, and toys. 
Its most exacting use is for honey s'^ctions to hold comb honey, for 
which purpose a white wood is required. Basswood is an ideal wood 
for candy pails and cracker and candy boxes, because of its clean ap- 
pearance and light weight and because it does not taint substances 
in contact with it. Its light color also makes it very much in demand 
for flour-barrel heading, cheese boxes, excelsior, pulpwood, and laun- 
dry appliances, including mainly washboards and ironing boards. 
Its lightness and good seasoning and gluing qualities make it an 
excellent core wood, producing a strong, light panel. Because of 
these properties it is the preferred wood for trunks. 

Basswood generally finds a ready market in the form of the log or 
bolt, or as lumber. For the small timber owner the log and bolt are 
the most advantageous forms for marketing. Large, clear, high- 
grade logs bring the best prices when sold for conversion into veneer. 
Small and low-grade logs and bolts can be disposed of most profitably 
to woodenware and slack-cooperage factories. Clear, small-dimen- 
sion stock can be sold to best advantage to excelsior and pulpwood 
plants. It is desirable to obtain information on prices, specifica- 
tions, and methods of measurement from prospective purchasers 
before the standing timber is converted into marketable form. 

Since basswood reproduces easily and increases in size rapidly in 
situations favorable for the growth of the tree, and since the timber 
is readily marketable in various forms, owners of land suitable mainly 
for timber production in the basswod region will find it advantageous 
to encourage the growth of this species. 



58 



BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 



APPENDIX. 



Classified listofuses reported for bassivood by factories. 



AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. 

Alfalfa grinder parts. 

Corn grader frames. 

Corn buskers. 

Corn planters. 

Corn shellers. 

Fanning-mill drums. 

Fanning mill sieve frames. 

Fanning mills. 

Feed grinders. 

Feed mills. 

Feeder slats. 

Garden cultivators. 

Grain cleaners. 

Grain hoppers. 

Grass seeders. 

Grass-seeder boxes. 

Hay loaders. 

Hayracks. 

Hayrake parts. 

Hullers. 

Peach graders. 

Potato planters. 

Seeder boxes. 

Separators : 

Bean. 

Grain. 

Threshing machine. 
Tanks, threshing-machine. 
Thrasher boxes. 
Threshing machines : 

Dust conveyors. 

Tanks. 
Threshers: 

Braces. 

Grain pans and shakers. 

Grain registers. 
Wheat fans. 

BOOT AND SHOE FINDINGS. 

Hollow lasts. 
Lasts. 

Shoe clog soles. 
Shoe fillers. 
Shoe forms. 
Shoe frames. 
Shoe lasts. 
Shoe trees. 



BOXES AND CRATES. 

Baskets : 

Berry. 

Clothes. 

Fruit and vegetable. 

Grape. 

Split. 
Basket covers. 
Basket hoops. 
Basket splints. 
Boxes: 

Berry. 

Bottle. 

Bread. 

Butter. 

Candy. 

Chocolate. 

Confectionery. 

Druggist. 

Fancy. 

Folding. 

Fruit. 

Glove. 

Knife. 

Lock-corner. 

Mailing. 

Novelty. 

Packing. 

Polished . 

Poultry. 

Printed. 

Rubber type. 

Shirtwaist. 

Tool. 

Type. 

Utility. 
Bos shooks. 
Cases : 

Egg. 

Packing. 

Shipping. 

Type. 
Crates. 

Crates, bushel. 
Crating. 

Lids, grape-basket. 
Tea chests. 
Trays, egg. 



UTILIZATIOK" or BASSWOOD. 



59 



BOXES, TOBACCO. 


cooperage. 




Cigar boxes. 


Heading : 




Humidors. 


Barrel. 




Tobacco boxes. 


Slack cooperage. 




BROOMS. 


Spice kegs. 
Staves. 




Broom handles. 


Staves: 




BRUSHES. 


Slack cooperage. 




Brush : 


Tight cooperage. 




Backs. 
Blocks. 


dairymen's, poulterers', and 


APIAR- 


ists' supplies. 




Handles. 


Beehives. 




Brushes. 


Beehive sections. 




butchers' blocks and skewers. 


Bee boxes. 
Butter molds. 




Skewers. 


Honey boxes. 
Chums: 




car construction. 


Covers. 




Car finish, outside. 


Standards. 




Car: 


Honey crates. 




Repairing. 


Honey sections. 




Roofing. 


Incubators. 




Cars: 


Poultry coops. 




Freight. 


Poultry coops, bottoms. 




Interior finish. 


Poultry crates. 




Railroad. 


dowels. 




Ceiling, car hood. 






Dust guards: 


Dowels, furniture. 




Freight cars. 






Railway cars. 


EQULPMENT, PLAYGROUND. 




Locomotives. 


Exercise rings. 




Locomotive woodwork. 


Swing seats. 




Passenger cars : 






Interior finish. 


excelsior. 




Interior work. 


Excelsior. 




Railroad coaches. 


Excelsior: 

Mattress stuffing. 




caskets and coffins. 


Packing. 




Caskets. 


fixtures. 




Caskets: 


Alarm tills: 




Cases. 


Bottoms. 




Corners. 


Tops. 




Molding. 


Altars, church. 




Panels. 


Bank fixtures. 




Coflins. 


Cabinet drawers. 
Cabinets. 




chairs. 


Cabinets : 




Chair seats. 


Seed. 




Chairs. 


Toilet. 




Seat frames. 


Church furniture. 




clocks. 


Church pews. 




Clock cases. 


Cupboards. 





60 



BULLETIN 1007; V. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 



Cupboards: 

Backs. 

Bottoms. 

Drawers. 
Desks, school. 
Die cases. 
Display forms: 

Hosiery. 

Shoe. 
Fixtures: 

Bank. 

Bar. 

Barber shop. 

Drug store. 

Office. 

Store. 

Store and office. 
Frames, store fixture. 
Interior frames, store fixture. 
Medicine cabinets. 
Medicine cases. 
Pews, church. 
Racks : 

Curtain display. 

Rug display. 
Shoe cases. 
Shoe racks. 

Show cases, inside work. 
Stands, Bible. 
Stock racks. 
Wall cases. 
Water-closet, tank backs. 

FRAMES AND MOLDING, PICTURE. 

Frames : 

Mirror. 

Picture. 
Molding, picture. 

FURNITURE. 

Backing: 

Enameled work. 

Mirror. 

Furniture. 
Backs: 

Buffet. 

Bureau. 

Chiffonier. 

Chifforobe. 

Mirror. 

Wardrobe. 

Washstand. 
Bedsteads, hidden work. 
Bookcase backs. 
Bookcases. 



Bookcases, inside work. 
Bottoms : 

Buffet. 

Case. 

Chiffonier. 

Dressers. 
Card-table tops. 
Carvings, wood. 
Chamber suites. 
Chest bottoms. 
Chests, interior 
Chiffoniers. 
China closets. 
China closets, interior. 
Commodes. 
Consoles. 
Couches, box. 
Couch bottoms. 
Couch frames. 
Drawer bottoms. 
Drawer sides. 
Dresser backs. 
Dresser drawers. 
Extension tables. 
File cases. 

Filing cabinets, tops and shelves. 
Frames: 

Couch. 

Davenport. 

Lounge. 

Spring-bed. , 

Furniture: 

Case goods. 

Dining room. 

Hidden work. 
Interior work^ 

Furniture. 

Office desks. 
Lawn furniture. 
Letter files. 
Lodge furniture. 
Looking-glass backs. 
Music cabinets. 
Music cabinets, interior. 
Novelty furniture. 
Parlor furniture, frames. 
Rails: 

Door. 

Table. 
Record cabinets. 
Serving tables, hidden work. 
Shelves, desk. 
Showcase tables. 
Sideboards, interior work. 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 



61 



Slats, bed. 

Stands, typeAmter. 

Store and office furniture, interior work. 

Tables. 

Tables: 

Extension. 

Inside parts. 

Inside work. 
Table parts. 
Table tops. 
Tabourettes. 

HANDLES. 

Handles: 
Broom. 
Brush. 
Dipper. 

Engravers' tool. 
File. 

Long-handled dust broom. 
Mop. 
Pipe. 

Plastering trowel. 
Street brush. 
Trowel. 
Wall brush. 
Window brush . 

INSTRUMENTS, PROFESSIONAL AND 
SCIENTIFIC. 

Cameras. 

Chalk triangles, schoolroom. 

Drawing boards. 

Engraving boards. 

Glass-cutters ' boards. 

Medical batteries. 

Pencils. 

Pen holders. 

Quills. 

Rulers. 

Saw frames. 

Scales. 

Spirit levels. 

Thermometers. 

Trays, enameling. 

INSTRUMENTS, MUSICAL. 

Bellows: 

Organ. 

Piano-player. 
Bellows, organ, frames. 
Blowers: 

Organ. 

Piano-player. 
Bottom panels, piano-case. 
Case parts, piano. 



Cases : 

Band-instrument. 

Cornet. 

Drum. 
Cheeks, piano-case. 
Drums. 

Fall boards, piano-case. 
Guitars. 
Key blocks. 

Key bottoms, piano-case. 
Key slips, piano-case. 
Keys, piano. 
Keys, piano (key racks;. 
Mandolins. 
Mandolin necks. 
Molding, piano-case. 
Music shelf, piano-case. 
Organs. 
Organ backs. 

Organ cases, folding organs. 
Organ frames. 
Organ keys. 
Pedal cases. 
Pianos. 
Piano backs. 
Piano cases. 
Piano cases, sides. 
Piano fronts. 
Piano players. 
Piano skeletons. 
Pilasters, piano-case. 
Pipe organs, interior parts. 
Pipe organs. 
Pipes, organ. 
Rails, piano. 
Tops, piano. 
Top panels, piano-case. 
Veneer cases, piano. 
Violin cases. 

LAUNDRY APPLIANCES. 

Clothes bars. 

Clothes driers. 

Clothes pins. 

Clothes racks. 

Curtain stretchers. 

Ironing boards. 

Ironing boards, folding. 

Ironing-board tops. 

Laundry machinery. 

Laundry machines, hydraulic. 

Stretchers, curtain. 

Stretching horses. 

Tables, ironing. 

Tubs, washing-machine. 



62 



BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



MACHINE CONSTRUCTION. 

Clay-working machinery. 
Coal boxes, traction-engine 
Coffee mills. 
Cotton gins. 
Engine jackets. 
Flour-mill machinery. 
Jack screws. 
Loom ribs. 
Loom shafts. 
Looms. 

Machinery bodies. 
Machinery construction. 
Mud shields, traction-engine 
Presses : 

Cider. 

Wine. 
Reed ribs, loom. 
Road machinery. 
Smut mills. 
Spouting, flour-mill. 

MACHINERY AND APPARATUS, ELECTRICAL. 

Apparatus, electrical. 
Fans, electric. 
Spools, wire. 
Telephone accessories. 

MATCHES AND TOOTHPICKS. 

Match eticke. 

PATTERNS AND FLASKS. 

Patterns. 
Shop patterns. 
Templets: 

Boat. 

Shipbuilding. 

PLANING-MILL PRODUCTS. 

Astragals, sliding-door. 

Balusters. 

Baseblocks, house interior trim. 

Baseboards. 

Baseboards, house interior trim. 

Base corners, house interior trim. 

Base molding, house interior trim. 

Beams, dining-room ceiling. 

Binding strips, school blackboard. 

Book shelving. 

Carpet strip, house interior trim 

Casing. 



Door. 

House. 

Window. 



Ceiling. 

Chair rail, house interior trim. 

Finish. 

Finish : 

Exterior. 

Interior. 
Flooring. 
Interior finish: 

Buildings. 

Churches. 
Interior woodwork. 
Molding: 

Bed, house construction. 

Cap, house interior trim. 

Cove. 

Crown, house interior trim. 

Diip cap, house construction. 

Electric wire. 

Plaster, house construction. 

Spring cove, house construction. 
Nosing, house interior trim. 
Parting strip, house interior trim. 
Partitions. 

Partition molds, house interior trim. 
Plate rail, dining room. 
Sheathing. 
Shiplap. 
Siding. 

Siding, house. 
Weather boarding. 

PLUMBERS ' WOODWORK. 

Cabinets, toilet. 

PRINTING MATERIALS. 

Engra^dng boards. 
Printers' cabinets. 
Printers' supplies. 
Rubber-stamp pads, base blocks. 

PULLEYS AND CONVEYORS. 

Pulleys. 

Rims, split-wood pulleys. 

Split puUeys. 

REFRIGERATORS AND KITCHEN CABINETS 

Backs, kitchen cabinets. 

Bread boards, kitchen cabinets. 

Drawer bottoms, kitchen cabinets. 

Kitchen cabinets. 

Kitchen cabinets, interior work. 

Kitchen tables. 

Refrigerators. 

Shelving, kitchen cabinet. 

Table tops, kitchen cabinets. 

Tope, kitchen table. 



UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 



63 



SADDLES AND HARNESS. 

Saddletrees. 
Stin-ups; 

Head blocks. 

Neck blocks. 

SASH, DOORS, BLINDS, AND GENERAL 
MILLWORK. 

Blinds. 

Blinds, window. 

Bottom rails, sash. 

Brackets, plate-rail. 

Butchers' coolers. 

Capping, sink (house interior trim). 

Case work. 

Colonnades, house, interior trim. 

Corner blocks, house interior trim. 

Cornices, door. 

Doors: 

Folding. 

Sliding. 
Dust cap, house interior trim. 
Frames : 

Front door, side light. 

Window. 
Front doors, house. 
Grilles. 

Grilles, house, interior trim. 
Head blocks, house interior trim. 
Head casing, house interior trim. 
Jambs, door. 
Mantels. 

Mantels, painted work. 
Meeting rail, sash. 
Millwork. 

Mirror doors, house. 
Mullions, sash. 

Panel strips, house interior trim. 
Panels, door. 
Porch columns. 
Porch work. 
Rails, door. 
Sash. 

Sash, window. 
Screens. 

Screens, window. 
Sink aprons, house interior trim. 
Stair work. 
Stiles, door. 

Stops, door (house interior trim). 
Stops, window (house interior trim). 
Top rails, sash. 

SEWING MACHINES. 

Sewing-machine cabinets. 



SHADE AND MAP ROLLERS. 

Curtain poles. 
Rug poles. 
Window-shade rollers. 

SHIP AND BOAT BUILDING. 

Boats. 
Shipbuilding. 

SHUTTLES, SPOOLS, AND BOBBINS. 

Bobbins. 
Spools. 
Spool heads. 

SIGNS AND SUPPLIES. 

Signboards. 
Signs, advertising. 

SPORTING AND ATHLETIC GOODS. 

Automatic bowling alley bottoms. 
Billiard-table beds. 
Fishline blocks. 
Indian clubs. 

TANKS AND SILOS. 

Silos. 
Tanks, water. 

TOYS. 

Animals, toy. 

Automobiles. 

Blackboards. 

Boats, toy. 

Cannon and fort sets. 

Circus sets. 

Dolls. 

Doll houses. 

Doll parts. 

Game boards. 

Games. 

Hand-sled tops. 

Hobbyhorses. 

Hobbyhorses, stick. 

Horse rockers, children's. 

Parlor games. 

Pianos, children's. 

Seats, tricycle. 

Shooting galleries. 

Sled tops. 

Sleds. 

Stocks, popgun. 

Wagon, toy (sides). 

Wheelbarrows. 

TRUNKS AND VALISES. 

Boxes, trunk. 
Frames, suitcase. 
Sample cases. 



64 



BULLETIN 1007, U. S. DEPARTMEls-T OF AGRICULTUEE. 



VEHICLES AND VEHICLE PARTS. 

Aiitomobile bodies. 

Automobile panels. 

Automobile roof and top slats. 

Baby carriages. 

Baby-carriage bodies. 

Baby tenders. 

Battery boxes, automobile 

Bent vehicle parts. 

Brake blocks. 

Buggy bottoms. 

Buggy repairs. 

Business-wagon bodies. 

Carriage bodies. 

Carriage panels. 

Carts, dump. 

Deli very -wagon panels. 

Desks, mail- wagon. 

Doubletrees. 

Frames, buggy-cushion. 

Go-carts. 

Panels, light vehicle bodies. 

Panels, vehicle seats. 

Panels, light vehicle seats. 

Sideboards, wheelbarrow. 

Sides, wagon-body. 

Sides, wheelbarrow. 

Singletrees. 

Slats, wagon-top. 

Sleigh bodies. 

Sleighs. 

Street-sprinkler parts. 

Surrey-canopy frames. 

Vehicle body panels. 

Wagons. 

Wagon dashes. 

WHIPS, CANES, UMBRELLA STICKS. 

Sticks, umbrella. 

WOODENWARE AND NOVELTIES. 

Boards: 

Bread. 

Carving. 

Cloth. 

Hosiery. 

Meat. 

Pastry. 

Potato chip. 

Potato peeler. 

Skirt. 

Slaw. 

Sleeve. 
Book blocks. 
Bowls. 



Boxes, cheese. 
Bucket bottoms. 
Bucket covers. 
Buckets, candy. 
Buckets, sugar. 
Butter ladles. 
Candlesticks. 
Carved woodenware. 
Checkers. 
Checks: 

Barbers'. 
Haybalers'. 
Coat hangers. 
Dominoes. 
Envelope holders. 
Fish kits. 
Flag poles. 
Flag sticks, railway. 
Fruit driers. 
Globes, geographers'. 
Handles, fan. 
Heading, cheese-box. 
Jewelry-case frames. 
Kitchenware. 
Ladders. 

Ladders, extension. 
Ladders, step. 
Lapboards. 
Lard tubs. 
Matchsafes. 
Match strikers. 
Novelties. 

Novelties, burnt-wood. 
Pails: 

Candy. 
Fish." 
Lard. 
Panorama, religious. 
Paper racks. 
Porch shades. 
Pyrography. 
Reels, electric-wire. 
Reels, solder-wire. 
Seed cabinets. 
Shredders. 
Silverware cases. 
Snow shovels. 
Soap cups. 
Souvenirs. 
Step-ladder steps. 
Strips, felt-bound (school slates). 
Towel-roller frame. 
Towel rolls. 
Tub bottoms. 



o 



